vereinsamt

an archive. thank you so much for reading! [ICON : SolemnLamenting on twt]

[lcbyuri]

thank you for the goodbye wishes, everyone! although i didn't get to reply to them individually, i saw them all, and i am so grateful for all of you for joining me on this askblog adventure. i love you all so much, thank you for just reading everything i've done so far, you haven't seen the last of me!

lcbyuri, officially archived.

link to original intro post.

link to archive announcement.

[lcbyuri]

i just had the weirdest dream

[andampersandampersand]

Something shatters, all too sharply, loud and abrasive and far closer to the ears than one would find appreciable. When it ends, almost as quick as it took to start or middle, there stands a man in the shards. He is tall-er, scarred enough to denote a line of work, and bearing a heavy coat that drapes around the ankles like a lead weight. Bumps shift unseen under the grey of their overcoat—aforeseen hydraulics, if a guess had to be made—as they turn and peer around about their surroundings. A long rifle, its axe head glimmering in daylight, swings from his back all the while. It threatens to chop his own head off, with what would be a relatively easeful, clean swipe.

"Nowhere I've been, for certain." He notes.

@lcbyuri

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, you're here! Hello, er, And, was it?" Yuri greets surprisingly calmly in slightly hushed tones with a kind smile, halfway extending her gloved hand for a handshake before deciding against it in the end and letting it fall to her side. "We should probably leave first before we get in a lot of trouble."

The environment is... nice, elegant, to say the least, though it is, of all things, a bathroom -- ruined, now, by the damaged mirror. If Yuri notices his confusion at why, she says nothing at first, though when the door is quietly opened and they exit quickly as two when she came in as one, she grows compelled to explain herself. That, and the silence was growing awkward. "I couldn't think of anywhere else that had a mirror... uhm, it was- uh, an all-gender bathroom, so don't- okay, let me shut up."

Tips of her ears growing a shade to match her hair, she leads them to a table located just a little ways from the bathroom, close to the back. It seats three, evidence of a third person (the plus one, most likely) being the crumpled napkin on the side and the crumbs of bread on the plate, and on the tabletop is a half-empty water pitcher, a basket of assorted white breads, and a dish of butter. She sits down next to the empty space, flattening the back of her dress, and hands him a menu. "I already ordered some stuff while waiting, I hope that's okay. It's only appetizers."

The restaurant itself is cozy, decorated in tones of white and cyan that evoke a sense of calm. There aren't many people, though the patrons that are look classy, and the prices that read on the menu reflect why. In reality, he stands out a bit, but not enough to attract whispers or attention.

Yuri also takes a menu, skimming over the main courses. "I should get something for Heath," she murmurs, mostly to herself, before her eyes meet &'s over the top. "Anyway, how are you? How have you been?"

[andampersandampersand]

The burdensome jacket swings with follow-through as he turns at heel, a full head's height above Yuri's. His eyes hold no shine, looking down at her, even in direct sight of the harsh fluorescents. Just greying orbs of dull matte. His hair makes for the same hues, darker tones hiding between dim blonde strands. They had a living, breathing body once, but only the machinery functions now, all else marching to the tune of entropic decay.

He follows her in prescribed silence, only the crunching underfoot of destroyed property as they pay heed to her little ramble. "I don't mind your speaking, are we not here to conversate? Never quiet yourself in my presence, please, if I may make that request so boldly." He does a small bow, as a show of good soldierhood.

Pulling the young lady's chair out for her, he notes, "I hardly make choices of those sorts myself these days. I have never minded, so such it is always okay."

Giving no credence to price or other trappings of that sort, they answer the small chat thusly, "I've been fine, work is as usual, my state remains unchanged. How of you? I'm sure your life must be of infinite more interest."

[lcbyuri]

How much, really, can she say without it being awkward? She opens and closes her mouth at least once or twice, weighing out each word in her mind and wondering whether it is appropriate for conversation with a man she just met. Eventually, she settles on a modest opener: "No, it's really not that interesting, I promise," before leaning forward in her seat and giving a telling, almost longing glance to the empty seat beside her.

"But... the man I came with, his name is Heathcliff, though, uhm, not the one you might know, considering you told me that you've met Limbus Company before in your world. This one is... unique, I guess, and..." She takes a pause to think, instinctively placing her hands on the table and fidgeting with the ring on her middle finger. "...hmh. Well, I... I'm in a predicament, because I have feelings for him, but we are ex-lovers. It's a very long story, and honestly, I'm not sure why I chose this as conversation over the much more interesting time I, like, killed a man, but... you know."

A pathetic sort of chuckle leaves her lips, and she shakes her head before letting her hands rest. "Sorry about that! Uhm, how about you tell me about the Limbus Company of your world, and I can tell you about mine? That's much better, right?"

[andampersandampersand]

Their empty eyes hold their gaze on hers for as long need be, till courteously flitting to match her glance at the empty seat of the table. It is a look made in more copying than curiosity, he had good enough memory of the chair last he saw it to need a double check now, mere moments later.

A nod follows her recounting. Yes, he thinks, that is something he said, isn't it? His Limbus Company. But next in her story comes something of the matter of love, unfamiliar and alien to them. So, he can only look on in mildly diffused, novel interest that plays across his face and down his neck to reach the arms. He leans forward, too, and lays his chin within the rest of his palm, a single pointer finger rising up to tap at a spot just left and upwards of his lips.

Allowing a lengthy pause, he seems a comfortable friend of solitude, and just before it can become an awkward moment of quiet, their thoughts finally coincide such to be vocalized and pick up where she leaves off. They think of their answer, that is to say.

"Not to force anything upon you—please do tell if I am overstepping—but wither your want to apologizing, miss. I haven't minded a single word out of yours since we took to first meeting, so I presume it must just be some anxious tick, yes?" He taps the butt-end of a fork on the tabletop to the sound of a quiet metal thudding, a euphemism, "Due pardon if that is an incorrect assumption, you know what they say of such things, but I felt with no prior impressions of me there may have been a need to clarify. Besides, if it is any comfort, I have killed a hundred men myself. Another story to add to that pile? Not unwelcome, if you'd like, but... aha, you understand."

With that forefronted note out of the way, laughter hollow as his gaze, they begin to regale Yuri with the tale of his Limbus Company. There was a Heathcliff! Yes! And a Gregor, even. Someone in redder garb than the rest, with a clock for a head, of whom they say they fought briefly in fisticuffs, and several runner-ups to their attention. He had caught every one of their names—from their coats, of course—even under the circumstances by which talk could not be openly perpetrated, or at least not easily. Providing a basic physical description of every person involved was (a breathless task, and) seemingly undemanding of his memory.

"It is a soldier's duty to remember the faces of those they kill," he grins, as if having just reminded an old friend of some only partially relevant inside joke of theirs, "Good soldiers never forget."

It is not hard to say that, yes, the Limbus Company they knew is not too far off from the one Yuri would be familiar with via the grapevine. Aside for the few, noted, stray comments, the breadth of his talks were saved for entirely physical recollections of each person involved, with no further divulgence of their actualized relations to the man. That is to say, in this summing up of their words, nothing of value was lost to translation.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along to his recounting, makes a rather... discomforted, or maybe confused, face at their offhand comment about remembering faces. Although she's not on the level of Gretchen or Sonya smarts, she can pick up on subtleties, perhaps a little too well to the point of overanalysis, and so the implications are not lost on her.

After his detailed descriptions are finished, she takes a moment to compare them to the versions that she knows, drawing a mental image for ease. At that point, the waiter arrives with their appetizers, a delightful spread of breads and cheeses and other savory treats, to which Yuri pushes them towards & as an offering to select his foods first.

"There are some names I don't really recognize, like Faust or Ryoshu. I'm sure if I asked my colleagues, they'd know, but usually, asking about their past is a sore spot. I know it is for me, so it's a mutual respect thing. The name Don Quixote, that's... well, there's someone in my Company with that name, but they don't match the physical description of the Don Quixote you encountered at all. In fact, there was this time Gregor and I were talking about Don Quixote the girl, but I thought he was talking about Don Quixote the boy, so I assumed that Don transitioned..." Her expression grows sheepish. "That was embarrassing."

"Anyway, the rest I've seen before, and how you describe them lines up with how I remember them -- or, well, everyone but Heathcliff. I'm dating... a twin. His... emo twin. Yeah."

The last statement seems to be rather awkward, but Yuri allows no time to dwell on it, reaching for a piece of bread and knife to butter it. "Anyway, enough about other people, right? How about yourself, what do you like and do? Say only what you want, you know, no pressure! And you can ask me anything you want as well."

[andampersandampersand]

He only utters a quieted response, "Thank you." Spoken towards the waiter alongside a subtle nod. The appetizers are pushed his way and the notion impressed upon his mind that he is being made an advance offer. So as to be polite, however, he only takes up a small breadstick before returning the favor and sliding the foods back towards Yuri.

"I suppose that would be, wouldn't it?" They rhetorically respond to her call of embarrassment. But, for the most part, their head merely bobs along, rising and falling with her words in a sine-like wave of generalist agreement.

Then, the tough questions begin. The real interrogative meat of the conversation, so to say.

"Me?"

A momentary lull in the chatter, a pause to think.

"Well, my name is; and, I am a grade four fixer. I don't believe it to be that I particularly like doing anything, I suppose, or I haven't for a long while." A small chortle, in attempt to lighten the words. They quickly sober, "I'm sorry, is that answer unsatisfactory? Please do tell if so, I am open to criticism, or further command. My usual orders are to carry out executions, as a polite manner of putting it, or to lift heavy loads through large warehouses. When the needs arise."

And to that end, he begins to shift, leaning forward with coat dragging against the underwhelmingly gaudy tiling. Their hands move behind, as their gun unclicks from whatever hold it had upon its make of sheath and turns about. He lays it, unceremoniously, on the table. It doesn't slam into it, for he doesn't drop it, and so there is no thud, only them simply sliding it over the tablecloth. It clatters quietly against silverware and plate. The domino effect clinks a bit of cutlery on that glass-encased candle or flower vase all good restaurants have at their table's center.

"Allow myself demonstration, yes? Name one."

[lcbyuri]

She's taken aback by the question, maybe even closer to an order, the bread she was about to eat paused halfway between the table and her mouth. "I'm- I'm sorry? Name one what...?"

The answer she had been given was nothing close to the unsatisfactory he assumed it was, no, she found it fine, but the offer is much more telling of his character. It's a bit much, in her opinion, because to her interpretation, he is giving her a free hit on someone -- but she hates to assume, of course! But it's hard to see it any way other than that, right..?

Her eyes dart around the room, trying to see if anyone is looking at them. It's strange, now that she thinks about it, this well-dressed girl having a meal with a man who has clearly seen better days, a gun between them on the table. There are a lot of assumptions to make from that alone, and she doesn't want to get in any more trouble than she has with the people around her... Hell, there was even that one time the Head almost wiped her off the face of the planet for merely existing, and that was enough to scare her into not interacting with people for a while. Careful is what she should be, but she never seems to be able to follow it. Danger, like a shadow, clings to her, follows her wherever she goes, and all she can do is survive each disaster it brings. And every time, all she can think to herself is that she hopes it'll be different in some way or another, but it never turns out that way.

"There's- Well, there's no need for all that, right?" she says nervously, a sort of incredulous chuckle escaping her lips, putting her small bite down on her plate. God, if Heathcliff were here, he'd definitely start saying something about orders and freedom and putting guns away because this is no setting for them. If only she was more assertive, like him.

[andampersandampersand]

The prior blithe countenance that had remained slapdashed across the man's face for most the conversation withers in the instant she begins to sputter and struggle with her answer.

"My deepest apologies, yes, I wholeheartedly agree," They put a hand to their chest, in kind, sympathies written over their expression, "This must be no place for combat, I sincerely meant no offense or intention of endangering. There is no need for that, absolutely."

Suddenly planting a firm grip on the rifle's length, they partially lift the armament from its imposing situance upon the cloth and move it off the table, now instead leaning against its side. The axe head at its tip still leers over the horizon of an edge, along with a hefty, remaining span of wood and iron barrel. It's a long weapon, freakishly so, but it can be more easily ignored not lain overtop like a dead fish prepped for dissection, tail and head hanging over the cutting board's extent. The axe does glare at some angles, though.

[lcbyuri]

Certainly, it looks like he's trying to execute someone, like the minute the gun falls a person will be beheaded. Perhaps that's why she scoots a bit back, away from the supposed danger zone created in her mind, and flashes him a reassuring smile while her head shakes. "No, no, don't worry about it! It's... charming!"

Her attempt at a compliment comes out a bit flat, and she quickly finishes what was left of her bread before getting another slice for herself. The baked good, smothered in butter, is eaten in three bites, and she wipes her fingers on the napkin left by her plus-one. Her own is left folded on the table, perfect, waiting.

"I mean, if you really think about it," she adds after a moment, looking past him briefly to the people behind them who mind their own business and tend to their own lives, "anywhere is a place for combat nowadays. Even the safest places, they... tend to have violence, just unseen. Violence doesn't have to be loud or bloody or explosive to still be violence. It can be... words said, that hurt another person, and reinforce their insecurities..."

Without thinking, she's looking at the plus-one's plate again. The silence after her statement becomes oppressive, and she seems to notice, as she perks up again. "Anyway, don't feel embarrassed! If anything, it proves you're a good person that can protect me -- or anyone, you know! Because if it were me, I don't think I could protect you without ending up with a cut or two, haha! But- But, you know, if anyone comes in looking for trouble, I'll defend you!"

Her attempt at trying to do whatever she's trying to do comes out as more charming and unserious than she hopes, in reality.

[andampersandampersand]

Grey eyes stare placidly, a boring gaze that never lets up, hardly even blinks, as they give time for her end of the conversation to finish. Their replies, their responses, all things can wait; he is patient enough for that, for some minor rambling in a benign bit of small talk to run its course, lengthy as she makes it out to be. His thoughts could wait a lifetime to be spoken. Some already had.

"I am glad, as truly as it can be stated. The City is a rather dangerous place, isn't it? Thus, I am glad to know you would be willing to aid in my self-defenses." They allow a brief chortle, before continuing, "I am also glad to hear you do not overestimate yourself, such things can kill faster than weaponry. Or words, as you mentioned. I must agree with the sentiment, of course, words can be lethal. I've seen as much myself, and felt firsthand the slings of a command, what do you think ended me up like this?" They waft a hand over themself in a vague gesture, referring to no singular area, obviously.

"Not to imply I know anything of reinforced insecurities, with that, I have no experience. But would you not define a given order as words one would to have been killed by?"

He either doesn't know, or is ignoring, whatever unspoken quarrel you and your (ex-)significant other have. Likely the former, they seem a touch too blunt and honest to be subtle or avoidant. Figures, for the antonyms those words are to each other.

"Might you permit me to disagree, however? It is a small thing of note, nothing important, I assure you, so fine it is to be ignored. If you'd please."

[lcbyuri]

&'s seemingly unconscious and constant analysis of her, if it could even be called that, doesn't necessarily unsettle her as much as it makes her feel rather inadequate. First, they notice her tendency to apologize for everything and anything under the sun. Then, by mentioning that she does not overestimate herself, they, perhaps, realize that she tends to underestimate herself. She isn't an idiot, she knows she's capable of much more than what she currently does, but the cage of preconceived notions she's trapped herself in makes it difficult to believe the thought. People assign her to certain roles and ideas for a reason, and she's fine with it. Really, it makes it easier to meet expectations -- if she were to defy them and fail, how would that make her look?

She's almost confused by his question, taking a moment longer than what is really natural to figure out what he wants from her. It shows on her face, with her brows furrowed and her expression more focused, before, with hesitant tones, she says, "You don't need to ask to... disagree with me, you know..?"

She thinks the statement is rather harsh and blunt, rude in the way that it implies he isn't smart enough to know such a simple fact, so she hastily adds, hands up in a defensive gesture, "I mean- I do agree with your statement, because, er, ultimately, sometimes, it comes down to the person who gave the order to kill, and the one doing the killing has no other choice, but- but, you know, it's okay to think otherwise! I'd like to know why, if that's okay, but believe me, I won't judge or argue!"

Yet again, she's allowed herself to confirm and affirm the image of her they must have created in their mind.

[andampersandampersand]

"That had not been what I intended to disagree with. Were I of the wish to propose another viewpoint, I would have raised the question of my permission to do so near beginning to my talks with you of the concepts." He smiles with as much compassion as could be mustered, scraped off the inner walls of his shelled husk. The lexicon's subliminal messaging of his deceased nature begs the question of if the man is even capable to 'unconscious' acts of thinking.

"I only care to correct you on one title so graciously granted by yourself, Yuri. I am not a good person."

Unrelentingly still, their body nary moves for breath nor even seems to bear its own weight in difficulty. You may begin to wonder if they could be lifted over your shoulders with ease, or if they are so heavy a mass that, like the common stone, they cannot find it in themselves to defy Newton. Certainly, the air is heavier for their presence. The axe's curve sneers and begs for use, but it cannot be asked to clarify to whom it cuts for.

"Not that I intend on worrying you, attracting pity in my statements, or other some such acts brought on by the posturing of my words. I am neither a bad person, I believe. I am merely a reflection of my circumstances. I can be used for good, but it is not common. Much the same with bad, of which is not always my commander's intent."

"Do you understand my point? It is fine if not, I am free to restate, or never bring it up as topic again, if that is your wish."

[lcbyuri]

Yet again, & surprises her in a way no one has before. Perhaps it's the wisdom that comes with age, that makes everything he says so much more interesting and engaging -- the other members on the bus are good conversationalists, Heathcliff is too, but none of them articulate things the way & does. With blunt words and a carefully crafted neutrality, not wanting to give off any hint of an opinion unless he deems it appropriate or necessary. And even then, what he does give up is shrouded in implications that Yuri dares not to make.

The response comes out much easier than before. "I... always have thought of people and things as inherently good until they prove that they're bad. And even then, they can be forgiven and change, right? So..." Her head tilts slightly as she thinks on her words, fingers unconsciously playing with her ring. "I don't know what you have and haven't done, but my opinion of you now is high, if that's anything. It's nice talking to you, and, like, at least you don't baby me. Not that anyone does, but sometimes it feels like... Well, whatever."

There is a pause for a sip of water, and she wipes her hand on her lap. "Anyway, I do get what you're saying. I do wonder, though, since you're so, like, you know... Since you follow through on commands, has there ever been a time you didn't want to do one? I get you probably did in the end, but have you ever hesitated? Do you, uhm, enjoy being like this? Not that it's a bad thing, but I'm just curious."

She finds herself reflected in his eyes, but in the way where it feels like she's looking at the person she wishes she could be. A person who does anything, regardless of personal opinion, a person who is probably useful to many. &'s method of life mirrors that of the one she expressed a desire to live to Heathcliff in the dead of night, when they were talking about mortality and what life means when they can't lose it yet.

[andampersandampersand]

"I will not clash with your attitude, perhaps I am as good as you think. I know as much as anyone else, of course, I sought only to enlighten you on my own angle of view. Perhaps I can be forgiven, in time."

Pausing, they go still, gaze unwavering. It lasts as long as your moment of water's drinking had.

"But why would any aim to baby you, as it were? You seem a bright, young woman, with many an opportunity for upwards motion. Even if it supposedly does not happen, it still must stir under the surface as possibility if you would raise it now." A curious look plays in the dimmer shadows of his eyes.

"That is all besides your point, however," he waves a hand through the air to shoo away the notions, nonchalantly, "They are statements, but you have a question. Have I ever regretted it, yes? Is that your meaning? I find it no private query, it is quite alright to ask if your fear is the interloping of my mind, hold back none such wondering in yourself." He tries for a chuckle, a breathy sound fit for an old—if appropriately athletic—dead man's lungs. They are still an acting fixer, mind you.

A surly silence overtakes the table, now, as he leans forward. Only the creaking of their chair can be overheard, all else receiving a mental vignette of attention. His eyes flit to one side, then back to Yuri, then to the other, and back once more to her, their face hiding none of the secret they wished now to tell. A gossiper's smile draws from one cheek to the next, an angler's lure.

"Not even once, not since my earliest days of toddling about, babbling my guardian's ears off."

"Of course, that is the underlying presumption's answer. Have I ever hesitated? Only as much as has been ordered to me to pause. I could not tell you if I enjoy this way by which I continue, phrased as such considering it is no longer a life, even! Ha! But if I were to drop the specificities of my parlance. It is not my life to live anymore, is it? Such, not my question to answer. Is that satisfactory? I dearly hope so. I'll remind you of whom is paying for this meal, you may leave any time you wish."

[lcbyuri]

For some reason, although she had hoped their answer would comfort her and strengthen her desire to be more like him, she actually finds herself drawing an aversion. The idea of not regretting a single thing, of not hesitating at all when, say, being ordered to kill someone, rubs her off the wrong way. Although her manager leads them, tells them what to do in the throes of battle, they still have some free will of their own... It's as if the dead man walking has no humanity at all, which then begs the question of whether he is even man at all, or rather some other thing. But it's rude to think that, she knows, so she does not voice or even give a slight indication of these thoughts. He was once alive, so he must be man.

But... they have told her that even alive, he was like this. He had no moral compass, no thoughts of not pulling the trigger or swinging the axe to spill someone's blood on the floor. What exactly makes someone human varies from person to person, but to Yuri, being human means being able to have a semblance for compassion, being able to value both your life and others'. Although she doesn't necessarily fit the first part of the second criteria, she certainly does the second, so she would at least deem herself mostly human. But they have none of that. She can try justify it with thoughts of circumstance and "the way the City works" and survival, but at the end of the day, it's still a disturbing way of living, where everything is a potential target. And unless they're hiding some secret curse that they're under, where they just have to say yes to everything given for a thousand years, they're doing this of their own volition. It may be engrained in their flesh and bones, but they started doing this - living like this - by themselves.

Could she really be like that? Her, so full of kindness, of selfish selflessness, could she really have someone go up to her and tell her to kill another without even feeling slightly hesitant? If someone like Argalia told her to slice Heathcliff's neck off, even if he could come back, could she do it? She recalls the time she had to choke him out to save him, and she remembers that she was so apologetic, that she was shaking all over as she watched his breathing pick up and his face turn red. That was a horrible time for her, and to do it almost mindlessly...

She goes quiet for a little too long, a telling sign of her thoughts and her growing discomfort, and the only movement after beats of silence is her moving backwards. "Oh," is all she can say, because there isn't a single thing to agree with or disagree with politely. Perhaps his first compliments of her, but they have been completely overshadowed. "That sounds... like an interesting life."

It's such a meaningless response that sounds like it disregards everything he has told her, but that was more or less her goal. Perfect neutrality, though her enunciation on that adjective certainly gives away at least a slither of her true feelings on the subject. Again, silence, where she has half a mind to reassure him that she will not be leaving just because he killed the mood, before her PDA goes off and she takes it out. He can't see the screen, but based on her expression, the notification received doesn't seem to be positive.

She sighs, turning off the device. "It's not because of you, I promise, but I have to go. What poor timing, right? There's an emergency, because of course there is, and I have to deal with it..." Her shoulders slump. As awkward as it may be between her and them now, she was genuinely finding the conversation enlightening, and she's sure she could have found at least another thing to say to keep it going.

"I'm sorry to cut it short. I didn't mean to, I'll- try to find another time for us to meet!" She stands up, the chair making a quiet scraping noise against the ground, and gives him a friendly smile to indicate that she really means what she's saying. "You were really fun to talk to. Uhm, if you ever need anything, you can just tell me and I'll try help! To get back to your place, you can use the same method as how you came in. But you might have to go somewhere else to use their bathroom... or some other mirror, you know. Any mirror works!"

Reaching into the pocket of her coat (that now, upon closer inspection, does not really look like hers), she dumps a large amount of ahn onto the table. "Hopefully that's enough," she mutters to herself, only giving it a passing glance before she goes back to him. "Tell me when you get back! It was really nice meeting you, &. I hope we'll talk more."

After her final goodbye, she walks to the exit, only looking at them again through the window.

What a lot to think about.

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[shewhooncegripped]

The moment Yuri removes the bow Kromer starts getting to work with a small smile on her face, her voice is light as she speaks.

"Oh! I've been trying to hide it, but I made friends with a Mirror World Sinner Sinclair. They stay over sometimes, one time they were around for... Multiple weeks? Though, we both knew her presence would probably make people panic so we tried to be secretive about it."

Kromer's progress falters for a second, as if she's thinking. Her voice comes out a bit more cautious as she continues to talk, "Sinclair's Mirror World is one where she didn't give in to my pressure. She got away. From what I've gathered, in that Mirror World I went off the deep end and was eventually killed. Somewhat similar to our own journey with this world's Sinclair."

Kromer lets silence hang over the room for a second as she works, she seems to be lost in thought.

"At first, when I saw 'Clair... I wanted to seem like I could be a good person. I missed this world's Sinclair, even if it was my choice to leave Nagel und Hammer. So I was trying to act, I was trying to be nice. But we met up to have a fistfight-- ah, don't ask about that-- and 'Clair saw something redeemable in me I guess. They helped me see that own quality within myself, which is why I'm... Different? I don't know... I don't feel different, but looking back... I never would've trusted anyone like I've done with you today. I never would've entertained half of the things my anons do to me. It's... Haah. I don't know. It's a bit sobering realizing how much the people around me can change how I perceive the world?" It takes Kromer a moment to realize she's rambling. When she does, there's a small stammer. Kromer seems almost... Flustered. "Ah-- that wasn't your question... Sorry if I seemed defensive... It's... Uhm... Yes we've watched shows together. I wouldn't be able to name them at all, Sinclair is normally the one that picks them."

Kromer continues her work, despite supposedly not dyeing her own hair she seems quite skilled in what she's doing.

"Oh, please tell me if anything starts to burn or itch. Or generally feels uncomfortable. That would be bad, and we don't want this to be the mirror world where you became bald because you were afraid of offending me~." Kromer appears comfortable enough with Yuri to tease her.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along slightly as Kromer explains her relationship with Sinclair, pausing her movements to show she's at full attention. When the first part of dye is felt on her hair, slightly cold, she goes as still as she can.

"Alright, I will," she replies, staring at the wall. Without any mirror like they usually have at salons, she can only imagine what Kromer is doing to her hair right now. "I mean, if you do accidentally make me bald, that's okay! Uh, there's always wigs!"

Even though her lighthearted comment clears the air a little, Kromer's ramble still bounces around in her head. So, to not make her feel like she just ignored all of it, Yuri thinks about herself.

"Sinclair seems like a nice person," she says cautiously, testing the waters. When Kromer doesn't tell her to change the topic, she continues. "I always got that from them -- the one from our world, I mean. They're just a person who fell for circumstance, I guess, is a way to put it. I can't blame you for missing them, I mean..." Her hands flex under her thighs. "I really missed Heathcliff too, when we broke up. And it was, to some extent, my fault, because I overreacted way too much to something he did and ended up hurting him. I tried to get over him, but the bond that we had, the fact that he understood me better than a lot of the people here, it... Uhm, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to have missed Sinclair! And it's okay that you interact with the other one, though I don't think you need me to tell you that. In fact, I sometimes talk to a Mirror World Gregor and visit him. I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you at all.

It's good that you feel changed because of her. It's also good that you were open-minded with your relationship instead of letting the past make your judgements for you. Now, you know, you're a better person, and I'm sure she is, and both of you are happy, uh, I think. I'm happy to be doing this with you, if that's anything. I'm just happy to hear that you're well, is all... I want us all to get along."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer snorts a little when Yuri tries to reassure her that wigs are fine. But the woman doesn't speak, instead she quietly allows Yuri to continue.

And Kromer listens.

Yuri sounds incredibly lonely. Even if she's speaking to comfort Kromer, even if she's just trying to give a personal anecdote to appear relatable... It only makes her sound more sad. Kromer has been neglecting her relationship with Yuri. All Yuri wants is for people to get along, yet she's too nice. She's too easily overlooked.

The words... They were meant to comfort Kromer. Yet, all Kromer can think about is how she's been ignoring someone right in front of her.

Kromer offers a soft hum to Yuri's kind words as a response. Just to show that she was listening-- just to show the silence wasn't because Kromer was once again ignoring Yuri.

Kromer just needs to think.

...

Ah.

"Yuri. What is a day of the week you are available consistently? I want to hang out with you outside of any Girls Nights or Ladies Nights... Just one on one unless one of us has any guests over." Kromer makes sure to keep her voice light, "any guests can join us."

...

"Just something for us to look forward to each week...?"

There's a brief pause as Kromer suddenly stops touching Yuri's hair.

"I'm gonna sit with you, there's a bit of waiting time. It's kinda like baking cookies, you gotta wait for it to bake. Is there anything you need right now?"

...Kromer seems a bit flustered, perhaps she is embarrassed about the invitation she just offered.

[lcbyuri]

"Uh, waiting is fine, but I..." She's so surprised that she breaks her stillness, turning her head. She's glad Kromer was already done, otherwise she could have put hair dye right on her face. "I- Uhm, wh- what?"

Her heart is racing. Is... Is Kromer really suggesting such a thing, that she wants to hang out outside of what is already regular for them? That she wants to spend more time with Yuri for no reason than to just hang out? When was the last time anyone asked her for that? For a no-reason, no-strings-attached meeting? Yuri searches Kromer's face for any sign of deception, but she just finds honesty marked by her bashful expression.

Her whole life has been filled with those types of get togethers: she would go to work parties and meetings to discuss work, she would celebrate coworkers' birthdays because they're a year older, she would come over to houses for a special event. There was never a smaller reason, it always had to be something big. Even when she was approached by Gretchen that day, when she was barely getting by as a fallen feather, she was given the offer to join other people as a job. Not because they felt pity for her, not because they knew she was on the verge of just ending her life and she needed someone to talk to, but because of work.

It always comes back to that idea, of work. Yuri's life has always been synonymous with the idea of doing some kind of labor, whether it be moving Abnormality eggs or turning them into one. She's been a cog in the City's machine, an easy employee or instrument to control and use. Her life has... never really been her own, but rather the life of her position. Even if she feels like she's doing something for herself, it has to benefit another person -- the only exception, probably, was when she broke up with Heathcliff, but she ended up getting back with him. And it's not like she regrets it, but... they both benefitted off of getting back together, not just her. So that singular experience was nulled and voided the day they fell asleep in each others' arms. There may be other times, but they're rare enough that she can't recall.

Nobody has ever wanted her around just because. But Kromer speaks of the idea so easily that it's unnatural to Yuri. Kromer doesn't want Yuri to help with undistorting someone, nor does she want her help with something like cleaning or whatever else Yuri has proven herself to be good at. She wants Yuri around because she's herself.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple times. "Are- Are you sure?" she stutters, and what exactly she's wanting to be assured about isn't clear. Are you sure you want it to be me? Are you sure you want to spend time alone? Are you sure you won't regret this?

It's not normal, she thinks, to be so surprised and emotional over something like this. Yuri knew the minute that she survived that she wasn't normal, that she probably never would be -- fuck, she literally can't die, and her coworkers are all insane. Normal is not a luxury for a means to an end, normal is everything she feels she isn't. But Kromer treats her like she's normal. Like she's been normal. Like she hadn't spent a good two weeks alone rotting in her room.

She didn't talk to anyone during that time besides a few comments to herself, and she barely saw any of her colleagues. She thought they wouldn't care, that this was just typical Yuri, that there was no cause for concern. But somehow, with just a few words that were supposed to be reassuring, Kromer picked up on everything Yuri's wanted and more.

Yuri never wanted to be lonely during that time. She never wanted to be isolated, even if it was mostly self-imposed. What she wanted, as lame and pitiful as it is, was for someone to check on her. To knock on her door, or even barge in, and ask if she was alright. To tell her that they hadn't seen her in a while, that they missed her, that they were wondering where she was. Anyone would have worked, really, from her own boyfriend to the Director. But no one came.

Not until now, with the woman who almost made Yuri regret joining Limbus Company at the beginning of their journey. Kromer was - and still is - everything Yuri isn't. She's strong, she's able to think for herself, she can derive her own worth outside of what others perceive her to be. Kromer can move on from the past, while Yuri still thinks often about her branch and Gregor and everything that could have been done differently. Yuri is, and has been, jealous of Kromer. But it's Kromer that cares for her, and it's Kromer that came. The one woman who probably is the most different from Yuri came to her, and says she wants to be friends, and really, really means it.

It means everything.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods, while she still seems quite flustered... There is a small mischievous smile on her face now. She seems to be amused by Yuri's shock.

"I'm sure! I wouldn't ask if I wasn't interested." Kromer crosses one leg over the other as she leans back in her chair.

"I'm free most Thursday afternoons. Ladies Nights are earlier in the week, and I don't really hold a solid schedule outside of that. Is that a good day for you?"

Kromer seems to understand that she may need to lead the planning, but she doesn't look bothered at all by it. She seems content with stating things and seeing how Yuri responds.

[lcbyuri]

She really, really, really means it. Overwhelmed for the second time, she barely holds in her happy tears, instead expressing herself with a tight lipped, but obviously overjoyed, smile. "Okay, that sounds, uhm, great! I'm rarely ever busy, so, really, any day works, but Thursday is good. It's our day."

So this is what it feels like to have real friends. What it feels like to be wanted, to not be some kind of summon for people. What it feels like to be a person. There's no plan yet, but they'll make one, and then maybe they can make this a truly regular thing.

Her hands wring themselves out, like she's cleaning herself of all her worries. "I'm excited," she comments. "Really excited. Uhm, thank you..."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods happily, it seems that Yuri really needed this. Warmth builds in Kromer's chest as she sees her friend come to wordless realizations.

"Of course. Let me know if there's anything you wish to do and I'll try to prepare accordingly." Kromer stands and retrieves water for Yuri, she doesn't say anything indication why she's done so however. Perhaps she just thinks Yuri should hydrate.

"We are coming up to the fun part, by the way. I need to rinse your hair and add conditioner. Then we can dry it and see how it looks. Are you nervous?"

[lcbyuri]

The water is taken and drank about a quarter of the way, putting some more life into her system. Her fingers fiddle with the top instead of playing with her hands. "Nervous? Ahh, not really. If you said it'll look good, I'm sure it will!"

Her mood has considerably improved, an idle smile on her face and a glint in her otherwise rather dull eyes. "I hear that hair dye can stain your hands, though, and basically everything around you, so you should be careful. I don't want you to have purple hands forever... I mean, you could always wear gloves, I guess."

She's in such a good mood that the idea of having fun comes in her mind. Having fun pranking someone with hair dye in their soap. It's so uncharacteristic, but it's there.

[shewhooncegripped]

"Indeed. I wore gloves while putting it on, I can just rinse those off and use that to condition your hair if it becomes too much of an issue. Ah, if you feel confident enough... We can stick your head under the kitchen sink and see how much we can do. I didn't really think this far ahead, fuhuhu~." Kromer chuckles to herself, she's already setting up the sink before Yuri can give her input.

"The water to rinse needs to be cold-- oh, and things like hot showers can take out the dye quicker as well so just keep that in mind. Sorry in advance." Kromer leaves the faucet running for Yuri as she sets up her own stuff for the next step.

Kromer has a very gentle smile on her face as she watches Yuri, the other looks a little... Mischievous. Kromer can't help but wonder what the other person is thinking about.

"Anyways, yeah... Just put your head under the water and try to get everything rinsed."

[lcbyuri]

"Will my head even fit?" she wonders aloud, but she's already standing up and leaning over the counter, sticking her head under the sink. The water is cold, shockingly so, and she sputters as some gets into her mouth, but she doesn't pull away and toughs it out. Her lips purse, eye shut fully, and she can feel her gauze getting soggy but she says nothing. From the times she has to open her eyes, she can see the water turning a sort of reddish-purple, which hopefully won't stick to the sink's metal.

Surely, she thinks, Kromer will pull her out from here when she's washed enough. This is... kind of embarrassing, and if she drowns, Head forbid, everyone will know she died to the Mephistopheles' sink. Anyway, the water is becoming more tolerable as she adapts to it, so she'll just wait for some kind of signal. Or maybe a couple more minutes.

[shewhooncegripped]

Oh. Yuri looks like a pathetic sad puppy. That's a bit depressing.

Kromer can't help but chuckle as she reaches a gloved hand to tap Yuri's shoulder eventually, "that should be enough but keep your head above the sink. You can relax though I'm gonna put some conditioner in your hair."

And Kromer does. She starts working on rubbing it in, though eventually she pauses.

"Oh. Did I get your eye patch wet? Ah... That can't be comfortable, I'm sorry I didn't think about that. Uhm... Do you wanna take it off? I won't judge you for what is under. Otherwise, I can get you a replacement or we can find something to hold over it until we are done..." Kromer sounds bashful, as if she was caught doing something bad. Her hands continue to rub in the conditioner before pulling away and letting the conditioner sit for a bit while she listens for Yuri's answer.

[lcbyuri]

"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine," she mumbles, feeling water run down her face. "This has happened before, I'm used to it."

Kromer's hands massage her head well, enough to make her sigh through her nose. When she pulls away, she holds onto that feeling to stop the ache of being bent over a sink get to her. She's had worse, like dying, but this isn't the most comfortable position to be in. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like it'll be much longer.

"Do you want to see what's under?" she offers, half joking. She's only shown a few other people, namely Heathcliff when they were in bed together, Argalia, Gretchen, and Dongbaek as a bonding experience, but only the first and last person had a reason that meant something. So this is like a friendly rite of passage, showing people scars.

[shewhooncegripped]

"Only if you are comfortable with it... You should be good to rinse out your hair again, so think about it a bit more. I don't wanna pressure you into it, so you can tell me what you want while I'm drying your hair." Kromer seems to be a bit more cautious now that Yuri is offering-- almost as if she worries about overstepping boundaries.

While Yuri works on her hair once more, this time trying to get rid of the conditioner, Kromer sets up a chair close to the counter where an outlet is. She prepares a hair dryer and brush for when Yuri is ready.

[lcbyuri]

And she's back to drowning again. But this time, for not as long, and she even decides to use her hands to really get the conditioner out. It leaves her skin purple-tinged when she pulls away from the water and wipes her face, the eyepatch looking heavy on her face from all the water that trickles down like tears.

Sitting properly again, now staring at the cabinets, she gives it a moment before speaking up. "I lost my eye in an accident at my old job. One of the Abnormalities breached, and I ended up in the crossfire. I'm lucky it wasn't worse, and that it was the worst thing that happened to me while there. Uh, you know, except the other thing..." She trails off, realizing that what was supposed to be a lighthearted anecdote is turning much sadder. To save face, she quickly adds, "Anyway, I'm fine now! Actually, when I first lost it, my depth perception got really messed up, so I used to struggle to pick up objects. Now, obviously, I'm fine, but I used to really badly misjudge where things were and end up way off. There was this one time I was pouring a cup of water for myself, but I misjudged where the spout was and ended up just giving the counter a nice wash that day."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer hums and starts to dry Yuri's hair, "I've heard phantom pains are a thing that happens with missing limbs. Do you get those with your eye?"

Kromer is surprisingly gentle as she handles Yuri's hair, she smiles to herself as she sees the color. It's a charming color on Yuri. She is honestly quite excited to see what Yuri thinks of her own hair color.

...Kromer wonders if Yuri is going to want some sort of personal information about her in return. Kromer needs to plan ahead just in case, she supposes.

[lcbyuri]

"Hm... sometimes, I guess. I don't wear my eyepatch when I go to sleep, so sometimes I'll rub it but there'll be nothing there. I guess that's more force of habit than it is phantom pain, though..."

Just to keep the surprise, she closes her eye, feeling her hair fall on her back, some strands slipping past her shoulders. It's warm and fluffy, she can sense the heat coming off, and her excitement spikes once more. "Does it look pretty?" she asks. "I'm not going bald, am I?"

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer hums at the former statement, it does seem like it would be inconvenient to have such muscle memory that would rely on you using something that doesn't exist anymore.

But the subject quickly changes.

"It's actually so cute, fuhuhu~! It's a nice color, Yuri." Kromer stops the hair dryer and runs her fingers through Yuri's hair. It's fluffy. It's soft. Kromer can't help but be a bit jealous at this moment.

The color itself works with Yuri's naturally red hair quite well, but it's a bit less attention grabbing than bright red hair at least.

Kromer can't help but give Yuri's hair a small ruffle, "I don't have a mirror with me... But how about you go take a look, Yuri?"

[lcbyuri]

They manage to find a mirror in the bathroom, Kromer leading the way, and Yuri takes a second to brace herself before opening her eye. She's sure it's not awful because Kromer said it was cute, but there's still a part of her that's slightly nervous, even if it's the most minute emotion right now. Her breath is held as she cracks her eye open slowly...

...and she gasps, her mouth dropping in shock. Oh, she's pretty. It looks good on her, and it's a fresh change. It's no longer completely red, the color she's disliked for quite some time now, and is instead a blend of herself and, honestly, the man she's in love with. She takes a clump of hair and holds it up, almost in disbelief, a grin splitting her face.

"Ah, I look so nice!" she exclaims, and she's not sure when she last said that phrase to herself till now. But it feels good to refer to herself that way, her energy levels up again as she bounces on her heels. "It looks so good, you did an amazing job! Ah, I can't believe it!"

Without thinking, she takes Kromer's hands in her own, eye sparkling. She could care less about if they're sweaty or not, because they're the hands of her friend. "Thank you so much, Kromer! Really, thank you so much! Ah, I hope the others will like it... But I love it! So much!"

She hasn't felt this amazing in a long time, and she hopes she can hold onto this feeling for as long as she can. Although the past few days have certainly been rough, this is a sign that it'll really all get better.

Not only has she gotten a new look, but she's made a friend. Or maybe, just maybe, Kromer was her friend all along, and this was the event that made Yuri realize it.

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[shewhooncegripped]

The moment Yuri removes the bow Kromer starts getting to work with a small smile on her face, her voice is light as she speaks.

"Oh! I've been trying to hide it, but I made friends with a Mirror World Sinner Sinclair. They stay over sometimes, one time they were around for... Multiple weeks? Though, we both knew her presence would probably make people panic so we tried to be secretive about it."

Kromer's progress falters for a second, as if she's thinking. Her voice comes out a bit more cautious as she continues to talk, "Sinclair's Mirror World is one where she didn't give in to my pressure. She got away. From what I've gathered, in that Mirror World I went off the deep end and was eventually killed. Somewhat similar to our own journey with this world's Sinclair."

Kromer lets silence hang over the room for a second as she works, she seems to be lost in thought.

"At first, when I saw 'Clair... I wanted to seem like I could be a good person. I missed this world's Sinclair, even if it was my choice to leave Nagel und Hammer. So I was trying to act, I was trying to be nice. But we met up to have a fistfight-- ah, don't ask about that-- and 'Clair saw something redeemable in me I guess. They helped me see that own quality within myself, which is why I'm... Different? I don't know... I don't feel different, but looking back... I never would've trusted anyone like I've done with you today. I never would've entertained half of the things my anons do to me. It's... Haah. I don't know. It's a bit sobering realizing how much the people around me can change how I perceive the world?" It takes Kromer a moment to realize she's rambling. When she does, there's a small stammer. Kromer seems almost... Flustered. "Ah-- that wasn't your question... Sorry if I seemed defensive... It's... Uhm... Yes we've watched shows together. I wouldn't be able to name them at all, Sinclair is normally the one that picks them."

Kromer continues her work, despite supposedly not dyeing her own hair she seems quite skilled in what she's doing.

"Oh, please tell me if anything starts to burn or itch. Or generally feels uncomfortable. That would be bad, and we don't want this to be the mirror world where you became bald because you were afraid of offending me~." Kromer appears comfortable enough with Yuri to tease her.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along slightly as Kromer explains her relationship with Sinclair, pausing her movements to show she's at full attention. When the first part of dye is felt on her hair, slightly cold, she goes as still as she can.

"Alright, I will," she replies, staring at the wall. Without any mirror like they usually have at salons, she can only imagine what Kromer is doing to her hair right now. "I mean, if you do accidentally make me bald, that's okay! Uh, there's always wigs!"

Even though her lighthearted comment clears the air a little, Kromer's ramble still bounces around in her head. So, to not make her feel like she just ignored all of it, Yuri thinks about herself.

"Sinclair seems like a nice person," she says cautiously, testing the waters. When Kromer doesn't tell her to change the topic, she continues. "I always got that from them -- the one from our world, I mean. They're just a person who fell for circumstance, I guess, is a way to put it. I can't blame you for missing them, I mean..." Her hands flex under her thighs. "I really missed Heathcliff too, when we broke up. And it was, to some extent, my fault, because I overreacted way too much to something he did and ended up hurting him. I tried to get over him, but the bond that we had, the fact that he understood me better than a lot of the people here, it... Uhm, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to have missed Sinclair! And it's okay that you interact with the other one, though I don't think you need me to tell you that. In fact, I sometimes talk to a Mirror World Gregor and visit him. I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you at all.

It's good that you feel changed because of her. It's also good that you were open-minded with your relationship instead of letting the past make your judgements for you. Now, you know, you're a better person, and I'm sure she is, and both of you are happy, uh, I think. I'm happy to be doing this with you, if that's anything. I'm just happy to hear that you're well, is all... I want us all to get along."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer snorts a little when Yuri tries to reassure her that wigs are fine. But the woman doesn't speak, instead she quietly allows Yuri to continue.

And Kromer listens.

Yuri sounds incredibly lonely. Even if she's speaking to comfort Kromer, even if she's just trying to give a personal anecdote to appear relatable... It only makes her sound more sad. Kromer has been neglecting her relationship with Yuri. All Yuri wants is for people to get along, yet she's too nice. She's too easily overlooked.

The words... They were meant to comfort Kromer. Yet, all Kromer can think about is how she's been ignoring someone right in front of her.

Kromer offers a soft hum to Yuri's kind words as a response. Just to show that she was listening-- just to show the silence wasn't because Kromer was once again ignoring Yuri.

Kromer just needs to think.

...

Ah.

"Yuri. What is a day of the week you are available consistently? I want to hang out with you outside of any Girls Nights or Ladies Nights... Just one on one unless one of us has any guests over." Kromer makes sure to keep her voice light, "any guests can join us."

...

"Just something for us to look forward to each week...?"

There's a brief pause as Kromer suddenly stops touching Yuri's hair.

"I'm gonna sit with you, there's a bit of waiting time. It's kinda like baking cookies, you gotta wait for it to bake. Is there anything you need right now?"

...Kromer seems a bit flustered, perhaps she is embarrassed about the invitation she just offered.

[lcbyuri]

"Uh, waiting is fine, but I..." She's so surprised that she breaks her stillness, turning her head. She's glad Kromer was already done, otherwise she could have put hair dye right on her face. "I- Uhm, wh- what?"

Her heart is racing. Is... Is Kromer really suggesting such a thing, that she wants to hang out outside of what is already regular for them? That she wants to spend more time with Yuri for no reason than to just hang out? When was the last time anyone asked her for that? For a no-reason, no-strings-attached meeting? Yuri searches Kromer's face for any sign of deception, but she just finds honesty marked by her bashful expression.

Her whole life has been filled with those types of get togethers: she would go to work parties and meetings to discuss work, she would celebrate coworkers' birthdays because they're a year older, she would come over to houses for a special event. There was never a smaller reason, it always had to be something big. Even when she was approached by Gretchen that day, when she was barely getting by as a fallen feather, she was given the offer to join other people as a job. Not because they felt pity for her, not because they knew she was on the verge of just ending her life and she needed someone to talk to, but because of work.

It always comes back to that idea, of work. Yuri's life has always been synonymous with the idea of doing some kind of labor, whether it be moving Abnormality eggs or turning them into one. She's been a cog in the City's machine, an easy employee or instrument to control and use. Her life has... never really been her own, but rather the life of her position. Even if she feels like she's doing something for herself, it has to benefit another person -- the only exception, probably, was when she broke up with Heathcliff, but she ended up getting back with him. And it's not like she regrets it, but... they both benefitted off of getting back together, not just her. So that singular experience was nulled and voided the day they fell asleep in each others' arms. There may be other times, but they're rare enough that she can't recall.

Nobody has ever wanted her around just because. But Kromer speaks of the idea so easily that it's unnatural to Yuri. Kromer doesn't want Yuri to help with undistorting someone, nor does she want her help with something like cleaning or whatever else Yuri has proven herself to be good at. She wants Yuri around because she's herself.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple times. "Are- Are you sure?" she stutters, and what exactly she's wanting to be assured about isn't clear. Are you sure you want it to be me? Are you sure you want to spend time alone? Are you sure you won't regret this?

It's not normal, she thinks, to be so surprised and emotional over something like this. Yuri knew the minute that she survived that she wasn't normal, that she probably never would be -- fuck, she literally can't die, and her coworkers are all insane. Normal is not a luxury for a means to an end, normal is everything she feels she isn't. But Kromer treats her like she's normal. Like she's been normal. Like she hadn't spent a good two weeks alone rotting in her room.

She didn't talk to anyone during that time besides a few comments to herself, and she barely saw any of her colleagues. She thought they wouldn't care, that this was just typical Yuri, that there was no cause for concern. But somehow, with just a few words that were supposed to be reassuring, Kromer picked up on everything Yuri's wanted and more.

Yuri never wanted to be lonely during that time. She never wanted to be isolated, even if it was mostly self-imposed. What she wanted, as lame and pitiful as it is, was for someone to check on her. To knock on her door, or even barge in, and ask if she was alright. To tell her that they hadn't seen her in a while, that they missed her, that they were wondering where she was. Anyone would have worked, really, from her own boyfriend to the Director. But no one came.

Not until now, with the woman who almost made Yuri regret joining Limbus Company at the beginning of their journey. Kromer was - and still is - everything Yuri isn't. She's strong, she's able to think for herself, she can derive her own worth outside of what others perceive her to be. Kromer can move on from the past, while Yuri still thinks often about her branch and Gregor and everything that could have been done differently. Yuri is, and has been, jealous of Kromer. But it's Kromer that cares for her, and it's Kromer that came. The one woman who probably is the most different from Yuri came to her, and says she wants to be friends, and really, really means it.

It means everything.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods, while she still seems quite flustered... There is a small mischievous smile on her face now. She seems to be amused by Yuri's shock.

"I'm sure! I wouldn't ask if I wasn't interested." Kromer crosses one leg over the other as she leans back in her chair.

"I'm free most Thursday afternoons. Ladies Nights are earlier in the week, and I don't really hold a solid schedule outside of that. Is that a good day for you?"

Kromer seems to understand that she may need to lead the planning, but she doesn't look bothered at all by it. She seems content with stating things and seeing how Yuri responds.

[lcbyuri]

She really, really, really means it. Overwhelmed for the second time, she barely holds in her happy tears, instead expressing herself with a tight lipped, but obviously overjoyed, smile. "Okay, that sounds, uhm, great! I'm rarely ever busy, so, really, any day works, but Thursday is good. It's our day."

So this is what it feels like to have real friends. What it feels like to be wanted, to not be some kind of summon for people. What it feels like to be a person. There's no plan yet, but they'll make one, and then maybe they can make this a truly regular thing.

Her hands wring themselves out, like she's cleaning herself of all her worries. "I'm excited," she comments. "Really excited. Uhm, thank you..."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods happily, it seems that Yuri really needed this. Warmth builds in Kromer's chest as she sees her friend come to wordless realizations.

"Of course. Let me know if there's anything you wish to do and I'll try to prepare accordingly." Kromer stands and retrieves water for Yuri, she doesn't say anything indication why she's done so however. Perhaps she just thinks Yuri should hydrate.

"We are coming up to the fun part, by the way. I need to rinse your hair and add conditioner. Then we can dry it and see how it looks. Are you nervous?"

[lcbyuri]

The water is taken and drank about a quarter of the way, putting some more life into her system. Her fingers fiddle with the top instead of playing with her hands. "Nervous? Ahh, not really. If you said it'll look good, I'm sure it will!"

Her mood has considerably improved, an idle smile on her face and a glint in her otherwise rather dull eyes. "I hear that hair dye can stain your hands, though, and basically everything around you, so you should be careful. I don't want you to have purple hands forever... I mean, you could always wear gloves, I guess."

She's in such a good mood that the idea of having fun comes in her mind. Having fun pranking someone with hair dye in their soap. It's so uncharacteristic, but it's there.

[shewhooncegripped]

"Indeed. I wore gloves while putting it on, I can just rinse those off and use that to condition your hair if it becomes too much of an issue. Ah, if you feel confident enough... We can stick your head under the kitchen sink and see how much we can do. I didn't really think this far ahead, fuhuhu~." Kromer chuckles to herself, she's already setting up the sink before Yuri can give her input.

"The water to rinse needs to be cold-- oh, and things like hot showers can take out the dye quicker as well so just keep that in mind. Sorry in advance." Kromer leaves the faucet running for Yuri as she sets up her own stuff for the next step.

Kromer has a very gentle smile on her face as she watches Yuri, the other looks a little... Mischievous. Kromer can't help but wonder what the other person is thinking about.

"Anyways, yeah... Just put your head under the water and try to get everything rinsed."

[lcbyuri]

"Will my head even fit?" she wonders aloud, but she's already standing up and leaning over the counter, sticking her head under the sink. The water is cold, shockingly so, and she sputters as some gets into her mouth, but she doesn't pull away and toughs it out. Her lips purse, eye shut fully, and she can feel her gauze getting soggy but she says nothing. From the times she has to open her eyes, she can see the water turning a sort of reddish-purple, which hopefully won't stick to the sink's metal.

Surely, she thinks, Kromer will pull her out from here when she's washed enough. This is... kind of embarrassing, and if she drowns, Head forbid, everyone will know she died to the Mephistopheles' sink. Anyway, the water is becoming more tolerable as she adapts to it, so she'll just wait for some kind of signal. Or maybe a couple more minutes.

[shewhooncegripped]

Oh. Yuri looks like a pathetic sad puppy. That's a bit depressing.

Kromer can't help but chuckle as she reaches a gloved hand to tap Yuri's shoulder eventually, "that should be enough but keep your head above the sink. You can relax though I'm gonna put some conditioner in your hair."

And Kromer does. She starts working on rubbing it in, though eventually she pauses.

"Oh. Did I get your eye patch wet? Ah... That can't be comfortable, I'm sorry I didn't think about that. Uhm... Do you wanna take it off? I won't judge you for what is under. Otherwise, I can get you a replacement or we can find something to hold over it until we are done..." Kromer sounds bashful, as if she was caught doing something bad. Her hands continue to rub in the conditioner before pulling away and letting the conditioner sit for a bit while she listens for Yuri's answer.

[lcbyuri]

"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine," she mumbles, feeling water run down her face. "This has happened before, I'm used to it."

Kromer's hands massage her head well, enough to make her sigh through her nose. When she pulls away, she holds onto that feeling to stop the ache of being bent over a sink get to her. She's had worse, like dying, but this isn't the most comfortable position to be in. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like it'll be much longer.

"Do you want to see what's under?" she offers, half joking. She's only shown a few other people, namely Heathcliff when they were in bed together, Argalia, Gretchen, and Dongbaek as a bonding experience, but only the first and last person had a reason that meant something. So this is like a friendly rite of passage, showing people scars.

[shewhooncegripped]

"Only if you are comfortable with it... You should be good to rinse out your hair again, so think about it a bit more. I don't wanna pressure you into it, so you can tell me what you want while I'm drying your hair." Kromer seems to be a bit more cautious now that Yuri is offering-- almost as if she worries about overstepping boundaries.

While Yuri works on her hair once more, this time trying to get rid of the conditioner, Kromer sets up a chair close to the counter where an outlet is. She prepares a hair dryer and brush for when Yuri is ready.

[lcbyuri]

And she's back to drowning again. But this time, for not as long, and she even decides to use her hands to really get the conditioner out. It leaves her skin purple-tinged when she pulls away from the water and wipes her face, the eyepatch looking heavy on her face from all the water that trickles down like tears.

Sitting properly again, now staring at the cabinets, she gives it a moment before speaking up. "I lost my eye in an accident at my old job. One of the Abnormalities breached, and I ended up in the crossfire. I'm lucky it wasn't worse, and that it was the worst thing that happened to me while there. Uh, you know, except the other thing..." She trails off, realizing that what was supposed to be a lighthearted anecdote is turning much sadder. To save face, she quickly adds, "Anyway, I'm fine now! Actually, when I first lost it, my depth perception got really messed up, so I used to struggle to pick up objects. Now, obviously, I'm fine, but I used to really badly misjudge where things were and end up way off. There was this one time I was pouring a cup of water for myself, but I misjudged where the spout was and ended up just giving the counter a nice wash that day."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer hums and starts to dry Yuri's hair, "I've heard phantom pains are a thing that happens with missing limbs. Do you get those with your eye?"

Kromer is surprisingly gentle as she handles Yuri's hair, she smiles to herself as she sees the color. It's a charming color on Yuri. She is honestly quite excited to see what Yuri thinks of her own hair color.

...Kromer wonders if Yuri is going to want some sort of personal information about her in return. Kromer needs to plan ahead just in case, she supposes.

[lcbyuri]

"Hm... sometimes, I guess. I don't wear my eyepatch when I go to sleep, so sometimes I'll rub it but there'll be nothing there. I guess that's more force of habit than it is phantom pain, though..."

Just to keep the surprise, she closes her eye, feeling her hair fall on her back, some strands slipping past her shoulders. It's warm and fluffy, she can sense the heat coming off, and her excitement spikes once more. "Does it look pretty?" she asks. "I'm not going bald, am I?"

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[shewhooncegripped]

The moment Yuri removes the bow Kromer starts getting to work with a small smile on her face, her voice is light as she speaks.

"Oh! I've been trying to hide it, but I made friends with a Mirror World Sinner Sinclair. They stay over sometimes, one time they were around for... Multiple weeks? Though, we both knew her presence would probably make people panic so we tried to be secretive about it."

Kromer's progress falters for a second, as if she's thinking. Her voice comes out a bit more cautious as she continues to talk, "Sinclair's Mirror World is one where she didn't give in to my pressure. She got away. From what I've gathered, in that Mirror World I went off the deep end and was eventually killed. Somewhat similar to our own journey with this world's Sinclair."

Kromer lets silence hang over the room for a second as she works, she seems to be lost in thought.

"At first, when I saw 'Clair... I wanted to seem like I could be a good person. I missed this world's Sinclair, even if it was my choice to leave Nagel und Hammer. So I was trying to act, I was trying to be nice. But we met up to have a fistfight-- ah, don't ask about that-- and 'Clair saw something redeemable in me I guess. They helped me see that own quality within myself, which is why I'm... Different? I don't know... I don't feel different, but looking back... I never would've trusted anyone like I've done with you today. I never would've entertained half of the things my anons do to me. It's... Haah. I don't know. It's a bit sobering realizing how much the people around me can change how I perceive the world?" It takes Kromer a moment to realize she's rambling. When she does, there's a small stammer. Kromer seems almost... Flustered. "Ah-- that wasn't your question... Sorry if I seemed defensive... It's... Uhm... Yes we've watched shows together. I wouldn't be able to name them at all, Sinclair is normally the one that picks them."

Kromer continues her work, despite supposedly not dyeing her own hair she seems quite skilled in what she's doing.

"Oh, please tell me if anything starts to burn or itch. Or generally feels uncomfortable. That would be bad, and we don't want this to be the mirror world where you became bald because you were afraid of offending me~." Kromer appears comfortable enough with Yuri to tease her.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along slightly as Kromer explains her relationship with Sinclair, pausing her movements to show she's at full attention. When the first part of dye is felt on her hair, slightly cold, she goes as still as she can.

"Alright, I will," she replies, staring at the wall. Without any mirror like they usually have at salons, she can only imagine what Kromer is doing to her hair right now. "I mean, if you do accidentally make me bald, that's okay! Uh, there's always wigs!"

Even though her lighthearted comment clears the air a little, Kromer's ramble still bounces around in her head. So, to not make her feel like she just ignored all of it, Yuri thinks about herself.

"Sinclair seems like a nice person," she says cautiously, testing the waters. When Kromer doesn't tell her to change the topic, she continues. "I always got that from them -- the one from our world, I mean. They're just a person who fell for circumstance, I guess, is a way to put it. I can't blame you for missing them, I mean..." Her hands flex under her thighs. "I really missed Heathcliff too, when we broke up. And it was, to some extent, my fault, because I overreacted way too much to something he did and ended up hurting him. I tried to get over him, but the bond that we had, the fact that he understood me better than a lot of the people here, it... Uhm, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to have missed Sinclair! And it's okay that you interact with the other one, though I don't think you need me to tell you that. In fact, I sometimes talk to a Mirror World Gregor and visit him. I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you at all.

It's good that you feel changed because of her. It's also good that you were open-minded with your relationship instead of letting the past make your judgements for you. Now, you know, you're a better person, and I'm sure she is, and both of you are happy, uh, I think. I'm happy to be doing this with you, if that's anything. I'm just happy to hear that you're well, is all... I want us all to get along."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer snorts a little when Yuri tries to reassure her that wigs are fine. But the woman doesn't speak, instead she quietly allows Yuri to continue.

And Kromer listens.

Yuri sounds incredibly lonely. Even if she's speaking to comfort Kromer, even if she's just trying to give a personal anecdote to appear relatable... It only makes her sound more sad. Kromer has been neglecting her relationship with Yuri. All Yuri wants is for people to get along, yet she's too nice. She's too easily overlooked.

The words... They were meant to comfort Kromer. Yet, all Kromer can think about is how she's been ignoring someone right in front of her.

Kromer offers a soft hum to Yuri's kind words as a response. Just to show that she was listening-- just to show the silence wasn't because Kromer was once again ignoring Yuri.

Kromer just needs to think.

...

Ah.

"Yuri. What is a day of the week you are available consistently? I want to hang out with you outside of any Girls Nights or Ladies Nights... Just one on one unless one of us has any guests over." Kromer makes sure to keep her voice light, "any guests can join us."

...

"Just something for us to look forward to each week...?"

There's a brief pause as Kromer suddenly stops touching Yuri's hair.

"I'm gonna sit with you, there's a bit of waiting time. It's kinda like baking cookies, you gotta wait for it to bake. Is there anything you need right now?"

...Kromer seems a bit flustered, perhaps she is embarrassed about the invitation she just offered.

[lcbyuri]

"Uh, waiting is fine, but I..." She's so surprised that she breaks her stillness, turning her head. She's glad Kromer was already done, otherwise she could have put hair dye right on her face. "I- Uhm, wh- what?"

Her heart is racing. Is... Is Kromer really suggesting such a thing, that she wants to hang out outside of what is already regular for them? That she wants to spend more time with Yuri for no reason than to just hang out? When was the last time anyone asked her for that? For a no-reason, no-strings-attached meeting? Yuri searches Kromer's face for any sign of deception, but she just finds honesty marked by her bashful expression.

Her whole life has been filled with those types of get togethers: she would go to work parties and meetings to discuss work, she would celebrate coworkers' birthdays because they're a year older, she would come over to houses for a special event. There was never a smaller reason, it always had to be something big. Even when she was approached by Gretchen that day, when she was barely getting by as a fallen feather, she was given the offer to join other people as a job. Not because they felt pity for her, not because they knew she was on the verge of just ending her life and she needed someone to talk to, but because of work.

It always comes back to that idea, of work. Yuri's life has always been synonymous with the idea of doing some kind of labor, whether it be moving Abnormality eggs or turning them into one. She's been a cog in the City's machine, an easy employee or instrument to control and use. Her life has... never really been her own, but rather the life of her position. Even if she feels like she's doing something for herself, it has to benefit another person -- the only exception, probably, was when she broke up with Heathcliff, but she ended up getting back with him. And it's not like she regrets it, but... they both benefitted off of getting back together, not just her. So that singular experience was nulled and voided the day they fell asleep in each others' arms. There may be other times, but they're rare enough that she can't recall.

Nobody has ever wanted her around just because. But Kromer speaks of the idea so easily that it's unnatural to Yuri. Kromer doesn't want Yuri to help with undistorting someone, nor does she want her help with something like cleaning or whatever else Yuri has proven herself to be good at. She wants Yuri around because she's herself.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple times. "Are- Are you sure?" she stutters, and what exactly she's wanting to be assured about isn't clear. Are you sure you want it to be me? Are you sure you want to spend time alone? Are you sure you won't regret this?

It's not normal, she thinks, to be so surprised and emotional over something like this. Yuri knew the minute that she survived that she wasn't normal, that she probably never would be -- fuck, she literally can't die, and her coworkers are all insane. Normal is not a luxury for a means to an end, normal is everything she feels she isn't. But Kromer treats her like she's normal. Like she's been normal. Like she hadn't spent a good two weeks alone rotting in her room.

She didn't talk to anyone during that time besides a few comments to herself, and she barely saw any of her colleagues. She thought they wouldn't care, that this was just typical Yuri, that there was no cause for concern. But somehow, with just a few words that were supposed to be reassuring, Kromer picked up on everything Yuri's wanted and more.

Yuri never wanted to be lonely during that time. She never wanted to be isolated, even if it was mostly self-imposed. What she wanted, as lame and pitiful as it is, was for someone to check on her. To knock on her door, or even barge in, and ask if she was alright. To tell her that they hadn't seen her in a while, that they missed her, that they were wondering where she was. Anyone would have worked, really, from her own boyfriend to the Director. But no one came.

Not until now, with the woman who almost made Yuri regret joining Limbus Company at the beginning of their journey. Kromer was - and still is - everything Yuri isn't. She's strong, she's able to think for herself, she can derive her own worth outside of what others perceive her to be. Kromer can move on from the past, while Yuri still thinks often about her branch and Gregor and everything that could have been done differently. Yuri is, and has been, jealous of Kromer. But it's Kromer that cares for her, and it's Kromer that came. The one woman who probably is the most different from Yuri came to her, and says she wants to be friends, and really, really means it.

It means everything.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods, while she still seems quite flustered... There is a small mischievous smile on her face now. She seems to be amused by Yuri's shock.

"I'm sure! I wouldn't ask if I wasn't interested." Kromer crosses one leg over the other as she leans back in her chair.

"I'm free most Thursday afternoons. Ladies Nights are earlier in the week, and I don't really hold a solid schedule outside of that. Is that a good day for you?"

Kromer seems to understand that she may need to lead the planning, but she doesn't look bothered at all by it. She seems content with stating things and seeing how Yuri responds.

[lcbyuri]

She really, really, really means it. Overwhelmed for the second time, she barely holds in her happy tears, instead expressing herself with a tight lipped, but obviously overjoyed, smile. "Okay, that sounds, uhm, great! I'm rarely ever busy, so, really, any day works, but Thursday is good. It's our day."

So this is what it feels like to have real friends. What it feels like to be wanted, to not be some kind of summon for people. What it feels like to be a person. There's no plan yet, but they'll make one, and then maybe they can make this a truly regular thing.

Her hands wring themselves out, like she's cleaning herself of all her worries. "I'm excited," she comments. "Really excited. Uhm, thank you..."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods happily, it seems that Yuri really needed this. Warmth builds in Kromer's chest as she sees her friend come to wordless realizations.

"Of course. Let me know if there's anything you wish to do and I'll try to prepare accordingly." Kromer stands and retrieves water for Yuri, she doesn't say anything indication why she's done so however. Perhaps she just thinks Yuri should hydrate.

"We are coming up to the fun part, by the way. I need to rinse your hair and add conditioner. Then we can dry it and see how it looks. Are you nervous?"

[lcbyuri]

The water is taken and drank about a quarter of the way, putting some more life into her system. Her fingers fiddle with the top instead of playing with her hands. "Nervous? Ahh, not really. If you said it'll look good, I'm sure it will!"

Her mood has considerably improved, an idle smile on her face and a glint in her otherwise rather dull eyes. "I hear that hair dye can stain your hands, though, and basically everything around you, so you should be careful. I don't want you to have purple hands forever... I mean, you could always wear gloves, I guess."

She's in such a good mood that the idea of having fun comes in her mind. Having fun pranking someone with hair dye in their soap. It's so uncharacteristic, but it's there.

[shewhooncegripped]

"Indeed. I wore gloves while putting it on, I can just rinse those off and use that to condition your hair if it becomes too much of an issue. Ah, if you feel confident enough... We can stick your head under the kitchen sink and see how much we can do. I didn't really think this far ahead, fuhuhu~." Kromer chuckles to herself, she's already setting up the sink before Yuri can give her input.

"The water to rinse needs to be cold-- oh, and things like hot showers can take out the dye quicker as well so just keep that in mind. Sorry in advance." Kromer leaves the faucet running for Yuri as she sets up her own stuff for the next step.

Kromer has a very gentle smile on her face as she watches Yuri, the other looks a little... Mischievous. Kromer can't help but wonder what the other person is thinking about.

"Anyways, yeah... Just put your head under the water and try to get everything rinsed."

[lcbyuri]

"Will my head even fit?" she wonders aloud, but she's already standing up and leaning over the counter, sticking her head under the sink. The water is cold, shockingly so, and she sputters as some gets into her mouth, but she doesn't pull away and toughs it out. Her lips purse, eye shut fully, and she can feel her gauze getting soggy but she says nothing. From the times she has to open her eyes, she can see the water turning a sort of reddish-purple, which hopefully won't stick to the sink's metal.

Surely, she thinks, Kromer will pull her out from here when she's washed enough. This is... kind of embarrassing, and if she drowns, Head forbid, everyone will know she died to the Mephistopheles' sink. Anyway, the water is becoming more tolerable as she adapts to it, so she'll just wait for some kind of signal. Or maybe a couple more minutes.

[shewhooncegripped]

Oh. Yuri looks like a pathetic sad puppy. That's a bit depressing.

Kromer can't help but chuckle as she reaches a gloved hand to tap Yuri's shoulder eventually, "that should be enough but keep your head above the sink. You can relax though I'm gonna put some conditioner in your hair."

And Kromer does. She starts working on rubbing it in, though eventually she pauses.

"Oh. Did I get your eye patch wet? Ah... That can't be comfortable, I'm sorry I didn't think about that. Uhm... Do you wanna take it off? I won't judge you for what is under. Otherwise, I can get you a replacement or we can find something to hold over it until we are done..." Kromer sounds bashful, as if she was caught doing something bad. Her hands continue to rub in the conditioner before pulling away and letting the conditioner sit for a bit while she listens for Yuri's answer.

[lcbyuri]

"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine," she mumbles, feeling water run down her face. "This has happened before, I'm used to it."

Kromer's hands massage her head well, enough to make her sigh through her nose. When she pulls away, she holds onto that feeling to stop the ache of being bent over a sink get to her. She's had worse, like dying, but this isn't the most comfortable position to be in. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like it'll be much longer.

"Do you want to see what's under?" she offers, half joking. She's only shown a few other people, namely Heathcliff when they were in bed together, Argalia, Gretchen, and Dongbaek as a bonding experience, but only the first and last person had a reason that meant something. So this is like a friendly rite of passage, showing people scars.

[shewhooncegripped]

"Only if you are comfortable with it... You should be good to rinse out your hair again, so think about it a bit more. I don't wanna pressure you into it, so you can tell me what you want while I'm drying your hair." Kromer seems to be a bit more cautious now that Yuri is offering-- almost as if she worries about overstepping boundaries.

While Yuri works on her hair once more, this time trying to get rid of the conditioner, Kromer sets up a chair close to the counter where an outlet is. She prepares a hair dryer and brush for when Yuri is ready.

[lcbyuri]

And she's back to drowning again. But this time, for not as long, and she even decides to use her hands to really get the conditioner out. It leaves her skin purple-tinged when she pulls away from the water and wipes her face, the eyepatch looking heavy on her face from all the water that trickles down like tears.

Sitting properly again, now staring at the cabinets, she gives it a moment before speaking up. "I lost my eye in an accident at my old job. One of the Abnormalities breached, and I ended up in the crossfire. I'm lucky it wasn't worse, and that it was the worst thing that happened to me while there. Uh, you know, except the other thing..." She trails off, realizing that what was supposed to be a lighthearted anecdote is turning much sadder. To save face, she quickly adds, "Anyway, I'm fine now! Actually, when I first lost it, my depth perception got really messed up, so I used to struggle to pick up objects. Now, obviously, I'm fine, but I used to really badly misjudge where things were and end up way off. There was this one time I was pouring a cup of water for myself, but I misjudged where the spout was and ended up just giving the counter a nice wash that day."

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[shewhooncegripped]

The moment Yuri removes the bow Kromer starts getting to work with a small smile on her face, her voice is light as she speaks.

"Oh! I've been trying to hide it, but I made friends with a Mirror World Sinner Sinclair. They stay over sometimes, one time they were around for... Multiple weeks? Though, we both knew her presence would probably make people panic so we tried to be secretive about it."

Kromer's progress falters for a second, as if she's thinking. Her voice comes out a bit more cautious as she continues to talk, "Sinclair's Mirror World is one where she didn't give in to my pressure. She got away. From what I've gathered, in that Mirror World I went off the deep end and was eventually killed. Somewhat similar to our own journey with this world's Sinclair."

Kromer lets silence hang over the room for a second as she works, she seems to be lost in thought.

"At first, when I saw 'Clair... I wanted to seem like I could be a good person. I missed this world's Sinclair, even if it was my choice to leave Nagel und Hammer. So I was trying to act, I was trying to be nice. But we met up to have a fistfight-- ah, don't ask about that-- and 'Clair saw something redeemable in me I guess. They helped me see that own quality within myself, which is why I'm... Different? I don't know... I don't feel different, but looking back... I never would've trusted anyone like I've done with you today. I never would've entertained half of the things my anons do to me. It's... Haah. I don't know. It's a bit sobering realizing how much the people around me can change how I perceive the world?" It takes Kromer a moment to realize she's rambling. When she does, there's a small stammer. Kromer seems almost... Flustered. "Ah-- that wasn't your question... Sorry if I seemed defensive... It's... Uhm... Yes we've watched shows together. I wouldn't be able to name them at all, Sinclair is normally the one that picks them."

Kromer continues her work, despite supposedly not dyeing her own hair she seems quite skilled in what she's doing.

"Oh, please tell me if anything starts to burn or itch. Or generally feels uncomfortable. That would be bad, and we don't want this to be the mirror world where you became bald because you were afraid of offending me~." Kromer appears comfortable enough with Yuri to tease her.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along slightly as Kromer explains her relationship with Sinclair, pausing her movements to show she's at full attention. When the first part of dye is felt on her hair, slightly cold, she goes as still as she can.

"Alright, I will," she replies, staring at the wall. Without any mirror like they usually have at salons, she can only imagine what Kromer is doing to her hair right now. "I mean, if you do accidentally make me bald, that's okay! Uh, there's always wigs!"

Even though her lighthearted comment clears the air a little, Kromer's ramble still bounces around in her head. So, to not make her feel like she just ignored all of it, Yuri thinks about herself.

"Sinclair seems like a nice person," she says cautiously, testing the waters. When Kromer doesn't tell her to change the topic, she continues. "I always got that from them -- the one from our world, I mean. They're just a person who fell for circumstance, I guess, is a way to put it. I can't blame you for missing them, I mean..." Her hands flex under her thighs. "I really missed Heathcliff too, when we broke up. And it was, to some extent, my fault, because I overreacted way too much to something he did and ended up hurting him. I tried to get over him, but the bond that we had, the fact that he understood me better than a lot of the people here, it... Uhm, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to have missed Sinclair! And it's okay that you interact with the other one, though I don't think you need me to tell you that. In fact, I sometimes talk to a Mirror World Gregor and visit him. I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you at all.

It's good that you feel changed because of her. It's also good that you were open-minded with your relationship instead of letting the past make your judgements for you. Now, you know, you're a better person, and I'm sure she is, and both of you are happy, uh, I think. I'm happy to be doing this with you, if that's anything. I'm just happy to hear that you're well, is all... I want us all to get along."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer snorts a little when Yuri tries to reassure her that wigs are fine. But the woman doesn't speak, instead she quietly allows Yuri to continue.

And Kromer listens.

Yuri sounds incredibly lonely. Even if she's speaking to comfort Kromer, even if she's just trying to give a personal anecdote to appear relatable... It only makes her sound more sad. Kromer has been neglecting her relationship with Yuri. All Yuri wants is for people to get along, yet she's too nice. She's too easily overlooked.

The words... They were meant to comfort Kromer. Yet, all Kromer can think about is how she's been ignoring someone right in front of her.

Kromer offers a soft hum to Yuri's kind words as a response. Just to show that she was listening-- just to show the silence wasn't because Kromer was once again ignoring Yuri.

Kromer just needs to think.

...

Ah.

"Yuri. What is a day of the week you are available consistently? I want to hang out with you outside of any Girls Nights or Ladies Nights... Just one on one unless one of us has any guests over." Kromer makes sure to keep her voice light, "any guests can join us."

...

"Just something for us to look forward to each week...?"

There's a brief pause as Kromer suddenly stops touching Yuri's hair.

"I'm gonna sit with you, there's a bit of waiting time. It's kinda like baking cookies, you gotta wait for it to bake. Is there anything you need right now?"

...Kromer seems a bit flustered, perhaps she is embarrassed about the invitation she just offered.

[lcbyuri]

"Uh, waiting is fine, but I..." She's so surprised that she breaks her stillness, turning her head. She's glad Kromer was already done, otherwise she could have put hair dye right on her face. "I- Uhm, wh- what?"

Her heart is racing. Is... Is Kromer really suggesting such a thing, that she wants to hang out outside of what is already regular for them? That she wants to spend more time with Yuri for no reason than to just hang out? When was the last time anyone asked her for that? For a no-reason, no-strings-attached meeting? Yuri searches Kromer's face for any sign of deception, but she just finds honesty marked by her bashful expression.

Her whole life has been filled with those types of get togethers: she would go to work parties and meetings to discuss work, she would celebrate coworkers' birthdays because they're a year older, she would come over to houses for a special event. There was never a smaller reason, it always had to be something big. Even when she was approached by Gretchen that day, when she was barely getting by as a fallen feather, she was given the offer to join other people as a job. Not because they felt pity for her, not because they knew she was on the verge of just ending her life and she needed someone to talk to, but because of work.

It always comes back to that idea, of work. Yuri's life has always been synonymous with the idea of doing some kind of labor, whether it be moving Abnormality eggs or turning them into one. She's been a cog in the City's machine, an easy employee or instrument to control and use. Her life has... never really been her own, but rather the life of her position. Even if she feels like she's doing something for herself, it has to benefit another person -- the only exception, probably, was when she broke up with Heathcliff, but she ended up getting back with him. And it's not like she regrets it, but... they both benefitted off of getting back together, not just her. So that singular experience was nulled and voided the day they fell asleep in each others' arms. There may be other times, but they're rare enough that she can't recall.

Nobody has ever wanted her around just because. But Kromer speaks of the idea so easily that it's unnatural to Yuri. Kromer doesn't want Yuri to help with undistorting someone, nor does she want her help with something like cleaning or whatever else Yuri has proven herself to be good at. She wants Yuri around because she's herself.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple times. "Are- Are you sure?" she stutters, and what exactly she's wanting to be assured about isn't clear. Are you sure you want it to be me? Are you sure you want to spend time alone? Are you sure you won't regret this?

It's not normal, she thinks, to be so surprised and emotional over something like this. Yuri knew the minute that she survived that she wasn't normal, that she probably never would be -- fuck, she literally can't die, and her coworkers are all insane. Normal is not a luxury for a means to an end, normal is everything she feels she isn't. But Kromer treats her like she's normal. Like she's been normal. Like she hadn't spent a good two weeks alone rotting in her room.

She didn't talk to anyone during that time besides a few comments to herself, and she barely saw any of her colleagues. She thought they wouldn't care, that this was just typical Yuri, that there was no cause for concern. But somehow, with just a few words that were supposed to be reassuring, Kromer picked up on everything Yuri's wanted and more.

Yuri never wanted to be lonely during that time. She never wanted to be isolated, even if it was mostly self-imposed. What she wanted, as lame and pitiful as it is, was for someone to check on her. To knock on her door, or even barge in, and ask if she was alright. To tell her that they hadn't seen her in a while, that they missed her, that they were wondering where she was. Anyone would have worked, really, from her own boyfriend to the Director. But no one came.

Not until now, with the woman who almost made Yuri regret joining Limbus Company at the beginning of their journey. Kromer was - and still is - everything Yuri isn't. She's strong, she's able to think for herself, she can derive her own worth outside of what others perceive her to be. Kromer can move on from the past, while Yuri still thinks often about her branch and Gregor and everything that could have been done differently. Yuri is, and has been, jealous of Kromer. But it's Kromer that cares for her, and it's Kromer that came. The one woman who probably is the most different from Yuri came to her, and says she wants to be friends, and really, really means it.

It means everything.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods, while she still seems quite flustered... There is a small mischievous smile on her face now. She seems to be amused by Yuri's shock.

"I'm sure! I wouldn't ask if I wasn't interested." Kromer crosses one leg over the other as she leans back in her chair.

"I'm free most Thursday afternoons. Ladies Nights are earlier in the week, and I don't really hold a solid schedule outside of that. Is that a good day for you?"

Kromer seems to understand that she may need to lead the planning, but she doesn't look bothered at all by it. She seems content with stating things and seeing how Yuri responds.

[lcbyuri]

She really, really, really means it. Overwhelmed for the second time, she barely holds in her happy tears, instead expressing herself with a tight lipped, but obviously overjoyed, smile. "Okay, that sounds, uhm, great! I'm rarely ever busy, so, really, any day works, but Thursday is good. It's our day."

So this is what it feels like to have real friends. What it feels like to be wanted, to not be some kind of summon for people. What it feels like to be a person. There's no plan yet, but they'll make one, and then maybe they can make this a truly regular thing.

Her hands wring themselves out, like she's cleaning herself of all her worries. "I'm excited," she comments. "Really excited. Uhm, thank you..."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods happily, it seems that Yuri really needed this. Warmth builds in Kromer's chest as she sees her friend come to wordless realizations.

"Of course. Let me know if there's anything you wish to do and I'll try to prepare accordingly." Kromer stands and retrieves water for Yuri, she doesn't say anything indication why she's done so however. Perhaps she just thinks Yuri should hydrate.

"We are coming up to the fun part, by the way. I need to rinse your hair and add conditioner. Then we can dry it and see how it looks. Are you nervous?"

[lcbyuri]

The water is taken and drank about a quarter of the way, putting some more life into her system. Her fingers fiddle with the top instead of playing with her hands. "Nervous? Ahh, not really. If you said it'll look good, I'm sure it will!"

Her mood has considerably improved, an idle smile on her face and a glint in her otherwise rather dull eyes. "I hear that hair dye can stain your hands, though, and basically everything around you, so you should be careful. I don't want you to have purple hands forever... I mean, you could always wear gloves, I guess."

She's in such a good mood that the idea of having fun comes in her mind. Having fun pranking someone with hair dye in their soap. It's so uncharacteristic, but it's there.

[shewhooncegripped]

"Indeed. I wore gloves while putting it on, I can just rinse those off and use that to condition your hair if it becomes too much of an issue. Ah, if you feel confident enough... We can stick your head under the kitchen sink and see how much we can do. I didn't really think this far ahead, fuhuhu~." Kromer chuckles to herself, she's already setting up the sink before Yuri can give her input.

"The water to rinse needs to be cold-- oh, and things like hot showers can take out the dye quicker as well so just keep that in mind. Sorry in advance." Kromer leaves the faucet running for Yuri as she sets up her own stuff for the next step.

Kromer has a very gentle smile on her face as she watches Yuri, the other looks a little... Mischievous. Kromer can't help but wonder what the other person is thinking about.

"Anyways, yeah... Just put your head under the water and try to get everything rinsed."

[lcbyuri]

"Will my head even fit?" she wonders aloud, but she's already standing up and leaning over the counter, sticking her head under the sink. The water is cold, shockingly so, and she sputters as some gets into her mouth, but she doesn't pull away and toughs it out. Her lips purse, eye shut fully, and she can feel her gauze getting soggy but she says nothing. From the times she has to open her eyes, she can see the water turning a sort of reddish-purple, which hopefully won't stick to the sink's metal.

Surely, she thinks, Kromer will pull her out from here when she's washed enough. This is... kind of embarrassing, and if she drowns, Head forbid, everyone will know she died to the Mephistopheles' sink. Anyway, the water is becoming more tolerable as she adapts to it, so she'll just wait for some kind of signal. Or maybe a couple more minutes.

[shewhooncegripped]

Oh. Yuri looks like a pathetic sad puppy. That's a bit depressing.

Kromer can't help but chuckle as she reaches a gloved hand to tap Yuri's shoulder eventually, "that should be enough but keep your head above the sink. You can relax though I'm gonna put some conditioner in your hair."

And Kromer does. She starts working on rubbing it in, though eventually she pauses.

"Oh. Did I get your eye patch wet? Ah... That can't be comfortable, I'm sorry I didn't think about that. Uhm... Do you wanna take it off? I won't judge you for what is under. Otherwise, I can get you a replacement or we can find something to hold over it until we are done..." Kromer sounds bashful, as if she was caught doing something bad. Her hands continue to rub in the conditioner before pulling away and letting the conditioner sit for a bit while she listens for Yuri's answer.

[lcbyuri]

"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine," she mumbles, feeling water run down her face. "This has happened before, I'm used to it."

Kromer's hands massage her head well, enough to make her sigh through her nose. When she pulls away, she holds onto that feeling to stop the ache of being bent over a sink get to her. She's had worse, like dying, but this isn't the most comfortable position to be in. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like it'll be much longer.

"Do you want to see what's under?" she offers, half joking. She's only shown a few other people, namely Heathcliff when they were in bed together, Argalia, Gretchen, and Dongbaek as a bonding experience, but only the first and last person had a reason that meant something. So this is like a friendly rite of passage, showing people scars.

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[shewhooncegripped]

The moment Yuri removes the bow Kromer starts getting to work with a small smile on her face, her voice is light as she speaks.

"Oh! I've been trying to hide it, but I made friends with a Mirror World Sinner Sinclair. They stay over sometimes, one time they were around for... Multiple weeks? Though, we both knew her presence would probably make people panic so we tried to be secretive about it."

Kromer's progress falters for a second, as if she's thinking. Her voice comes out a bit more cautious as she continues to talk, "Sinclair's Mirror World is one where she didn't give in to my pressure. She got away. From what I've gathered, in that Mirror World I went off the deep end and was eventually killed. Somewhat similar to our own journey with this world's Sinclair."

Kromer lets silence hang over the room for a second as she works, she seems to be lost in thought.

"At first, when I saw 'Clair... I wanted to seem like I could be a good person. I missed this world's Sinclair, even if it was my choice to leave Nagel und Hammer. So I was trying to act, I was trying to be nice. But we met up to have a fistfight-- ah, don't ask about that-- and 'Clair saw something redeemable in me I guess. They helped me see that own quality within myself, which is why I'm... Different? I don't know... I don't feel different, but looking back... I never would've trusted anyone like I've done with you today. I never would've entertained half of the things my anons do to me. It's... Haah. I don't know. It's a bit sobering realizing how much the people around me can change how I perceive the world?" It takes Kromer a moment to realize she's rambling. When she does, there's a small stammer. Kromer seems almost... Flustered. "Ah-- that wasn't your question... Sorry if I seemed defensive... It's... Uhm... Yes we've watched shows together. I wouldn't be able to name them at all, Sinclair is normally the one that picks them."

Kromer continues her work, despite supposedly not dyeing her own hair she seems quite skilled in what she's doing.

"Oh, please tell me if anything starts to burn or itch. Or generally feels uncomfortable. That would be bad, and we don't want this to be the mirror world where you became bald because you were afraid of offending me~." Kromer appears comfortable enough with Yuri to tease her.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along slightly as Kromer explains her relationship with Sinclair, pausing her movements to show she's at full attention. When the first part of dye is felt on her hair, slightly cold, she goes as still as she can.

"Alright, I will," she replies, staring at the wall. Without any mirror like they usually have at salons, she can only imagine what Kromer is doing to her hair right now. "I mean, if you do accidentally make me bald, that's okay! Uh, there's always wigs!"

Even though her lighthearted comment clears the air a little, Kromer's ramble still bounces around in her head. So, to not make her feel like she just ignored all of it, Yuri thinks about herself.

"Sinclair seems like a nice person," she says cautiously, testing the waters. When Kromer doesn't tell her to change the topic, she continues. "I always got that from them -- the one from our world, I mean. They're just a person who fell for circumstance, I guess, is a way to put it. I can't blame you for missing them, I mean..." Her hands flex under her thighs. "I really missed Heathcliff too, when we broke up. And it was, to some extent, my fault, because I overreacted way too much to something he did and ended up hurting him. I tried to get over him, but the bond that we had, the fact that he understood me better than a lot of the people here, it... Uhm, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to have missed Sinclair! And it's okay that you interact with the other one, though I don't think you need me to tell you that. In fact, I sometimes talk to a Mirror World Gregor and visit him. I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you at all.

It's good that you feel changed because of her. It's also good that you were open-minded with your relationship instead of letting the past make your judgements for you. Now, you know, you're a better person, and I'm sure she is, and both of you are happy, uh, I think. I'm happy to be doing this with you, if that's anything. I'm just happy to hear that you're well, is all... I want us all to get along."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer snorts a little when Yuri tries to reassure her that wigs are fine. But the woman doesn't speak, instead she quietly allows Yuri to continue.

And Kromer listens.

Yuri sounds incredibly lonely. Even if she's speaking to comfort Kromer, even if she's just trying to give a personal anecdote to appear relatable... It only makes her sound more sad. Kromer has been neglecting her relationship with Yuri. All Yuri wants is for people to get along, yet she's too nice. She's too easily overlooked.

The words... They were meant to comfort Kromer. Yet, all Kromer can think about is how she's been ignoring someone right in front of her.

Kromer offers a soft hum to Yuri's kind words as a response. Just to show that she was listening-- just to show the silence wasn't because Kromer was once again ignoring Yuri.

Kromer just needs to think.

...

Ah.

"Yuri. What is a day of the week you are available consistently? I want to hang out with you outside of any Girls Nights or Ladies Nights... Just one on one unless one of us has any guests over." Kromer makes sure to keep her voice light, "any guests can join us."

...

"Just something for us to look forward to each week...?"

There's a brief pause as Kromer suddenly stops touching Yuri's hair.

"I'm gonna sit with you, there's a bit of waiting time. It's kinda like baking cookies, you gotta wait for it to bake. Is there anything you need right now?"

...Kromer seems a bit flustered, perhaps she is embarrassed about the invitation she just offered.

[lcbyuri]

"Uh, waiting is fine, but I..." She's so surprised that she breaks her stillness, turning her head. She's glad Kromer was already done, otherwise she could have put hair dye right on her face. "I- Uhm, wh- what?"

Her heart is racing. Is... Is Kromer really suggesting such a thing, that she wants to hang out outside of what is already regular for them? That she wants to spend more time with Yuri for no reason than to just hang out? When was the last time anyone asked her for that? For a no-reason, no-strings-attached meeting? Yuri searches Kromer's face for any sign of deception, but she just finds honesty marked by her bashful expression.

Her whole life has been filled with those types of get togethers: she would go to work parties and meetings to discuss work, she would celebrate coworkers' birthdays because they're a year older, she would come over to houses for a special event. There was never a smaller reason, it always had to be something big. Even when she was approached by Gretchen that day, when she was barely getting by as a fallen feather, she was given the offer to join other people as a job. Not because they felt pity for her, not because they knew she was on the verge of just ending her life and she needed someone to talk to, but because of work.

It always comes back to that idea, of work. Yuri's life has always been synonymous with the idea of doing some kind of labor, whether it be moving Abnormality eggs or turning them into one. She's been a cog in the City's machine, an easy employee or instrument to control and use. Her life has... never really been her own, but rather the life of her position. Even if she feels like she's doing something for herself, it has to benefit another person -- the only exception, probably, was when she broke up with Heathcliff, but she ended up getting back with him. And it's not like she regrets it, but... they both benefitted off of getting back together, not just her. So that singular experience was nulled and voided the day they fell asleep in each others' arms. There may be other times, but they're rare enough that she can't recall.

Nobody has ever wanted her around just because. But Kromer speaks of the idea so easily that it's unnatural to Yuri. Kromer doesn't want Yuri to help with undistorting someone, nor does she want her help with something like cleaning or whatever else Yuri has proven herself to be good at. She wants Yuri around because she's herself.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple times. "Are- Are you sure?" she stutters, and what exactly she's wanting to be assured about isn't clear. Are you sure you want it to be me? Are you sure you want to spend time alone? Are you sure you won't regret this?

It's not normal, she thinks, to be so surprised and emotional over something like this. Yuri knew the minute that she survived that she wasn't normal, that she probably never would be -- fuck, she literally can't die, and her coworkers are all insane. Normal is not a luxury for a means to an end, normal is everything she feels she isn't. But Kromer treats her like she's normal. Like she's been normal. Like she hadn't spent a good two weeks alone rotting in her room.

She didn't talk to anyone during that time besides a few comments to herself, and she barely saw any of her colleagues. She thought they wouldn't care, that this was just typical Yuri, that there was no cause for concern. But somehow, with just a few words that were supposed to be reassuring, Kromer picked up on everything Yuri's wanted and more.

Yuri never wanted to be lonely during that time. She never wanted to be isolated, even if it was mostly self-imposed. What she wanted, as lame and pitiful as it is, was for someone to check on her. To knock on her door, or even barge in, and ask if she was alright. To tell her that they hadn't seen her in a while, that they missed her, that they were wondering where she was. Anyone would have worked, really, from her own boyfriend to the Director. But no one came.

Not until now, with the woman who almost made Yuri regret joining Limbus Company at the beginning of their journey. Kromer was - and still is - everything Yuri isn't. She's strong, she's able to think for herself, she can derive her own worth outside of what others perceive her to be. Kromer can move on from the past, while Yuri still thinks often about her branch and Gregor and everything that could have been done differently. Yuri is, and has been, jealous of Kromer. But it's Kromer that cares for her, and it's Kromer that came. The one woman who probably is the most different from Yuri came to her, and says she wants to be friends, and really, really means it.

It means everything.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods, while she still seems quite flustered... There is a small mischievous smile on her face now. She seems to be amused by Yuri's shock.

"I'm sure! I wouldn't ask if I wasn't interested." Kromer crosses one leg over the other as she leans back in her chair.

"I'm free most Thursday afternoons. Ladies Nights are earlier in the week, and I don't really hold a solid schedule outside of that. Is that a good day for you?"

Kromer seems to understand that she may need to lead the planning, but she doesn't look bothered at all by it. She seems content with stating things and seeing how Yuri responds.

[lcbyuri]

She really, really, really means it. Overwhelmed for the second time, she barely holds in her happy tears, instead expressing herself with a tight lipped, but obviously overjoyed, smile. "Okay, that sounds, uhm, great! I'm rarely ever busy, so, really, any day works, but Thursday is good. It's our day."

So this is what it feels like to have real friends. What it feels like to be wanted, to not be some kind of summon for people. What it feels like to be a person. There's no plan yet, but they'll make one, and then maybe they can make this a truly regular thing.

Her hands wring themselves out, like she's cleaning herself of all her worries. "I'm excited," she comments. "Really excited. Uhm, thank you..."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods happily, it seems that Yuri really needed this. Warmth builds in Kromer's chest as she sees her friend come to wordless realizations.

"Of course. Let me know if there's anything you wish to do and I'll try to prepare accordingly." Kromer stands and retrieves water for Yuri, she doesn't say anything indication why she's done so however. Perhaps she just thinks Yuri should hydrate.

"We are coming up to the fun part, by the way. I need to rinse your hair and add conditioner. Then we can dry it and see how it looks. Are you nervous?"

[lcbyuri]

The water is taken and drank about a quarter of the way, putting some more life into her system. Her fingers fiddle with the top instead of playing with her hands. "Nervous? Ahh, not really. If you said it'll look good, I'm sure it will!"

Her mood has considerably improved, an idle smile on her face and a glint in her otherwise rather dull eyes. "I hear that hair dye can stain your hands, though, and basically everything around you, so you should be careful. I don't want you to have purple hands forever... I mean, you could always wear gloves, I guess."

She's in such a good mood that the idea of having fun comes in her mind. Having fun pranking someone with hair dye in their soap. It's so uncharacteristic, but it's there.

[shewhooncegripped]

"Indeed. I wore gloves while putting it on, I can just rinse those off and use that to condition your hair if it becomes too much of an issue. Ah, if you feel confident enough... We can stick your head under the kitchen sink and see how much we can do. I didn't really think this far ahead, fuhuhu~." Kromer chuckles to herself, she's already setting up the sink before Yuri can give her input.

"The water to rinse needs to be cold-- oh, and things like hot showers can take out the dye quicker as well so just keep that in mind. Sorry in advance." Kromer leaves the faucet running for Yuri as she sets up her own stuff for the next step.

Kromer has a very gentle smile on her face as she watches Yuri, the other looks a little... Mischievous. Kromer can't help but wonder what the other person is thinking about.

"Anyways, yeah... Just put your head under the water and try to get everything rinsed."

[lcbyuri]

"Will my head even fit?" she wonders aloud, but she's already standing up and leaning over the counter, sticking her head under the sink. The water is cold, shockingly so, and she sputters as some gets into her mouth, but she doesn't pull away and toughs it out. Her lips purse, eye shut fully, and she can feel her gauze getting soggy but she says nothing. From the times she has to open her eyes, she can see the water turning a sort of reddish-purple, which hopefully won't stick to the sink's metal.

Surely, she thinks, Kromer will pull her out from here when she's washed enough. This is... kind of embarrassing, and if she drowns, Head forbid, everyone will know she died to the Mephistopheles' sink. Anyway, the water is becoming more tolerable as she adapts to it, so she'll just wait for some kind of signal. Or maybe a couple more minutes.

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[shewhooncegripped]

The moment Yuri removes the bow Kromer starts getting to work with a small smile on her face, her voice is light as she speaks.

"Oh! I've been trying to hide it, but I made friends with a Mirror World Sinner Sinclair. They stay over sometimes, one time they were around for... Multiple weeks? Though, we both knew her presence would probably make people panic so we tried to be secretive about it."

Kromer's progress falters for a second, as if she's thinking. Her voice comes out a bit more cautious as she continues to talk, "Sinclair's Mirror World is one where she didn't give in to my pressure. She got away. From what I've gathered, in that Mirror World I went off the deep end and was eventually killed. Somewhat similar to our own journey with this world's Sinclair."

Kromer lets silence hang over the room for a second as she works, she seems to be lost in thought.

"At first, when I saw 'Clair... I wanted to seem like I could be a good person. I missed this world's Sinclair, even if it was my choice to leave Nagel und Hammer. So I was trying to act, I was trying to be nice. But we met up to have a fistfight-- ah, don't ask about that-- and 'Clair saw something redeemable in me I guess. They helped me see that own quality within myself, which is why I'm... Different? I don't know... I don't feel different, but looking back... I never would've trusted anyone like I've done with you today. I never would've entertained half of the things my anons do to me. It's... Haah. I don't know. It's a bit sobering realizing how much the people around me can change how I perceive the world?" It takes Kromer a moment to realize she's rambling. When she does, there's a small stammer. Kromer seems almost... Flustered. "Ah-- that wasn't your question... Sorry if I seemed defensive... It's... Uhm... Yes we've watched shows together. I wouldn't be able to name them at all, Sinclair is normally the one that picks them."

Kromer continues her work, despite supposedly not dyeing her own hair she seems quite skilled in what she's doing.

"Oh, please tell me if anything starts to burn or itch. Or generally feels uncomfortable. That would be bad, and we don't want this to be the mirror world where you became bald because you were afraid of offending me~." Kromer appears comfortable enough with Yuri to tease her.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along slightly as Kromer explains her relationship with Sinclair, pausing her movements to show she's at full attention. When the first part of dye is felt on her hair, slightly cold, she goes as still as she can.

"Alright, I will," she replies, staring at the wall. Without any mirror like they usually have at salons, she can only imagine what Kromer is doing to her hair right now. "I mean, if you do accidentally make me bald, that's okay! Uh, there's always wigs!"

Even though her lighthearted comment clears the air a little, Kromer's ramble still bounces around in her head. So, to not make her feel like she just ignored all of it, Yuri thinks about herself.

"Sinclair seems like a nice person," she says cautiously, testing the waters. When Kromer doesn't tell her to change the topic, she continues. "I always got that from them -- the one from our world, I mean. They're just a person who fell for circumstance, I guess, is a way to put it. I can't blame you for missing them, I mean..." Her hands flex under her thighs. "I really missed Heathcliff too, when we broke up. And it was, to some extent, my fault, because I overreacted way too much to something he did and ended up hurting him. I tried to get over him, but the bond that we had, the fact that he understood me better than a lot of the people here, it... Uhm, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to have missed Sinclair! And it's okay that you interact with the other one, though I don't think you need me to tell you that. In fact, I sometimes talk to a Mirror World Gregor and visit him. I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you at all.

It's good that you feel changed because of her. It's also good that you were open-minded with your relationship instead of letting the past make your judgements for you. Now, you know, you're a better person, and I'm sure she is, and both of you are happy, uh, I think. I'm happy to be doing this with you, if that's anything. I'm just happy to hear that you're well, is all... I want us all to get along."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer snorts a little when Yuri tries to reassure her that wigs are fine. But the woman doesn't speak, instead she quietly allows Yuri to continue.

And Kromer listens.

Yuri sounds incredibly lonely. Even if she's speaking to comfort Kromer, even if she's just trying to give a personal anecdote to appear relatable... It only makes her sound more sad. Kromer has been neglecting her relationship with Yuri. All Yuri wants is for people to get along, yet she's too nice. She's too easily overlooked.

The words... They were meant to comfort Kromer. Yet, all Kromer can think about is how she's been ignoring someone right in front of her.

Kromer offers a soft hum to Yuri's kind words as a response. Just to show that she was listening-- just to show the silence wasn't because Kromer was once again ignoring Yuri.

Kromer just needs to think.

...

Ah.

"Yuri. What is a day of the week you are available consistently? I want to hang out with you outside of any Girls Nights or Ladies Nights... Just one on one unless one of us has any guests over." Kromer makes sure to keep her voice light, "any guests can join us."

...

"Just something for us to look forward to each week...?"

There's a brief pause as Kromer suddenly stops touching Yuri's hair.

"I'm gonna sit with you, there's a bit of waiting time. It's kinda like baking cookies, you gotta wait for it to bake. Is there anything you need right now?"

...Kromer seems a bit flustered, perhaps she is embarrassed about the invitation she just offered.

[lcbyuri]

"Uh, waiting is fine, but I..." She's so surprised that she breaks her stillness, turning her head. She's glad Kromer was already done, otherwise she could have put hair dye right on her face. "I- Uhm, wh- what?"

Her heart is racing. Is... Is Kromer really suggesting such a thing, that she wants to hang out outside of what is already regular for them? That she wants to spend more time with Yuri for no reason than to just hang out? When was the last time anyone asked her for that? For a no-reason, no-strings-attached meeting? Yuri searches Kromer's face for any sign of deception, but she just finds honesty marked by her bashful expression.

Her whole life has been filled with those types of get togethers: she would go to work parties and meetings to discuss work, she would celebrate coworkers' birthdays because they're a year older, she would come over to houses for a special event. There was never a smaller reason, it always had to be something big. Even when she was approached by Gretchen that day, when she was barely getting by as a fallen feather, she was given the offer to join other people as a job. Not because they felt pity for her, not because they knew she was on the verge of just ending her life and she needed someone to talk to, but because of work.

It always comes back to that idea, of work. Yuri's life has always been synonymous with the idea of doing some kind of labor, whether it be moving Abnormality eggs or turning them into one. She's been a cog in the City's machine, an easy employee or instrument to control and use. Her life has... never really been her own, but rather the life of her position. Even if she feels like she's doing something for herself, it has to benefit another person -- the only exception, probably, was when she broke up with Heathcliff, but she ended up getting back with him. And it's not like she regrets it, but... they both benefitted off of getting back together, not just her. So that singular experience was nulled and voided the day they fell asleep in each others' arms. There may be other times, but they're rare enough that she can't recall.

Nobody has ever wanted her around just because. But Kromer speaks of the idea so easily that it's unnatural to Yuri. Kromer doesn't want Yuri to help with undistorting someone, nor does she want her help with something like cleaning or whatever else Yuri has proven herself to be good at. She wants Yuri around because she's herself.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple times. "Are- Are you sure?" she stutters, and what exactly she's wanting to be assured about isn't clear. Are you sure you want it to be me? Are you sure you want to spend time alone? Are you sure you won't regret this?

It's not normal, she thinks, to be so surprised and emotional over something like this. Yuri knew the minute that she survived that she wasn't normal, that she probably never would be -- fuck, she literally can't die, and her coworkers are all insane. Normal is not a luxury for a means to an end, normal is everything she feels she isn't. But Kromer treats her like she's normal. Like she's been normal. Like she hadn't spent a good two weeks alone rotting in her room.

She didn't talk to anyone during that time besides a few comments to herself, and she barely saw any of her colleagues. She thought they wouldn't care, that this was just typical Yuri, that there was no cause for concern. But somehow, with just a few words that were supposed to be reassuring, Kromer picked up on everything Yuri's wanted and more.

Yuri never wanted to be lonely during that time. She never wanted to be isolated, even if it was mostly self-imposed. What she wanted, as lame and pitiful as it is, was for someone to check on her. To knock on her door, or even barge in, and ask if she was alright. To tell her that they hadn't seen her in a while, that they missed her, that they were wondering where she was. Anyone would have worked, really, from her own boyfriend to the Director. But no one came.

Not until now, with the woman who almost made Yuri regret joining Limbus Company at the beginning of their journey. Kromer was - and still is - everything Yuri isn't. She's strong, she's able to think for herself, she can derive her own worth outside of what others perceive her to be. Kromer can move on from the past, while Yuri still thinks often about her branch and Gregor and everything that could have been done differently. Yuri is, and has been, jealous of Kromer. But it's Kromer that cares for her, and it's Kromer that came. The one woman who probably is the most different from Yuri came to her, and says she wants to be friends, and really, really means it.

It means everything.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods, while she still seems quite flustered... There is a small mischievous smile on her face now. She seems to be amused by Yuri's shock.

"I'm sure! I wouldn't ask if I wasn't interested." Kromer crosses one leg over the other as she leans back in her chair.

"I'm free most Thursday afternoons. Ladies Nights are earlier in the week, and I don't really hold a solid schedule outside of that. Is that a good day for you?"

Kromer seems to understand that she may need to lead the planning, but she doesn't look bothered at all by it. She seems content with stating things and seeing how Yuri responds.

[lcbyuri]

She really, really, really means it. Overwhelmed for the second time, she barely holds in her happy tears, instead expressing herself with a tight lipped, but obviously overjoyed, smile. "Okay, that sounds, uhm, great! I'm rarely ever busy, so, really, any day works, but Thursday is good. It's our day."

So this is what it feels like to have real friends. What it feels like to be wanted, to not be some kind of summon for people. What it feels like to be a person. There's no plan yet, but they'll make one, and then maybe they can make this a truly regular thing.

Her hands wring themselves out, like she's cleaning herself of all her worries. "I'm excited," she comments. "Really excited. Uhm, thank you..."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods happily, it seems that Yuri really needed this. Warmth builds in Kromer's chest as she sees her friend come to wordless realizations.

"Of course. Let me know if there's anything you wish to do and I'll try to prepare accordingly." Kromer stands and retrieves water for Yuri, she doesn't say anything indication why she's done so however. Perhaps she just thinks Yuri should hydrate.

"We are coming up to the fun part, by the way. I need to rinse your hair and add conditioner. Then we can dry it and see how it looks. Are you nervous?"

[lcbyuri]

The water is taken and drank about a quarter of the way, putting some more life into her system. Her fingers fiddle with the top instead of playing with her hands. "Nervous? Ahh, not really. If you said it'll look good, I'm sure it will!"

Her mood has considerably improved, an idle smile on her face and a glint in her otherwise rather dull eyes. "I hear that hair dye can stain your hands, though, and basically everything around you, so you should be careful. I don't want you to have purple hands forever... I mean, you could always wear gloves, I guess."

She's in such a good mood that the idea of having fun comes in her mind. Having fun pranking someone with hair dye in their soap. It's so uncharacteristic, but it's there.

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[shewhooncegripped]

The moment Yuri removes the bow Kromer starts getting to work with a small smile on her face, her voice is light as she speaks.

"Oh! I've been trying to hide it, but I made friends with a Mirror World Sinner Sinclair. They stay over sometimes, one time they were around for... Multiple weeks? Though, we both knew her presence would probably make people panic so we tried to be secretive about it."

Kromer's progress falters for a second, as if she's thinking. Her voice comes out a bit more cautious as she continues to talk, "Sinclair's Mirror World is one where she didn't give in to my pressure. She got away. From what I've gathered, in that Mirror World I went off the deep end and was eventually killed. Somewhat similar to our own journey with this world's Sinclair."

Kromer lets silence hang over the room for a second as she works, she seems to be lost in thought.

"At first, when I saw 'Clair... I wanted to seem like I could be a good person. I missed this world's Sinclair, even if it was my choice to leave Nagel und Hammer. So I was trying to act, I was trying to be nice. But we met up to have a fistfight-- ah, don't ask about that-- and 'Clair saw something redeemable in me I guess. They helped me see that own quality within myself, which is why I'm... Different? I don't know... I don't feel different, but looking back... I never would've trusted anyone like I've done with you today. I never would've entertained half of the things my anons do to me. It's... Haah. I don't know. It's a bit sobering realizing how much the people around me can change how I perceive the world?" It takes Kromer a moment to realize she's rambling. When she does, there's a small stammer. Kromer seems almost... Flustered. "Ah-- that wasn't your question... Sorry if I seemed defensive... It's... Uhm... Yes we've watched shows together. I wouldn't be able to name them at all, Sinclair is normally the one that picks them."

Kromer continues her work, despite supposedly not dyeing her own hair she seems quite skilled in what she's doing.

"Oh, please tell me if anything starts to burn or itch. Or generally feels uncomfortable. That would be bad, and we don't want this to be the mirror world where you became bald because you were afraid of offending me~." Kromer appears comfortable enough with Yuri to tease her.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along slightly as Kromer explains her relationship with Sinclair, pausing her movements to show she's at full attention. When the first part of dye is felt on her hair, slightly cold, she goes as still as she can.

"Alright, I will," she replies, staring at the wall. Without any mirror like they usually have at salons, she can only imagine what Kromer is doing to her hair right now. "I mean, if you do accidentally make me bald, that's okay! Uh, there's always wigs!"

Even though her lighthearted comment clears the air a little, Kromer's ramble still bounces around in her head. So, to not make her feel like she just ignored all of it, Yuri thinks about herself.

"Sinclair seems like a nice person," she says cautiously, testing the waters. When Kromer doesn't tell her to change the topic, she continues. "I always got that from them -- the one from our world, I mean. They're just a person who fell for circumstance, I guess, is a way to put it. I can't blame you for missing them, I mean..." Her hands flex under her thighs. "I really missed Heathcliff too, when we broke up. And it was, to some extent, my fault, because I overreacted way too much to something he did and ended up hurting him. I tried to get over him, but the bond that we had, the fact that he understood me better than a lot of the people here, it... Uhm, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to have missed Sinclair! And it's okay that you interact with the other one, though I don't think you need me to tell you that. In fact, I sometimes talk to a Mirror World Gregor and visit him. I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you at all.

It's good that you feel changed because of her. It's also good that you were open-minded with your relationship instead of letting the past make your judgements for you. Now, you know, you're a better person, and I'm sure she is, and both of you are happy, uh, I think. I'm happy to be doing this with you, if that's anything. I'm just happy to hear that you're well, is all... I want us all to get along."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer snorts a little when Yuri tries to reassure her that wigs are fine. But the woman doesn't speak, instead she quietly allows Yuri to continue.

And Kromer listens.

Yuri sounds incredibly lonely. Even if she's speaking to comfort Kromer, even if she's just trying to give a personal anecdote to appear relatable... It only makes her sound more sad. Kromer has been neglecting her relationship with Yuri. All Yuri wants is for people to get along, yet she's too nice. She's too easily overlooked.

The words... They were meant to comfort Kromer. Yet, all Kromer can think about is how she's been ignoring someone right in front of her.

Kromer offers a soft hum to Yuri's kind words as a response. Just to show that she was listening-- just to show the silence wasn't because Kromer was once again ignoring Yuri.

Kromer just needs to think.

...

Ah.

"Yuri. What is a day of the week you are available consistently? I want to hang out with you outside of any Girls Nights or Ladies Nights... Just one on one unless one of us has any guests over." Kromer makes sure to keep her voice light, "any guests can join us."

...

"Just something for us to look forward to each week...?"

There's a brief pause as Kromer suddenly stops touching Yuri's hair.

"I'm gonna sit with you, there's a bit of waiting time. It's kinda like baking cookies, you gotta wait for it to bake. Is there anything you need right now?"

...Kromer seems a bit flustered, perhaps she is embarrassed about the invitation she just offered.

[lcbyuri]

"Uh, waiting is fine, but I..." She's so surprised that she breaks her stillness, turning her head. She's glad Kromer was already done, otherwise she could have put hair dye right on her face. "I- Uhm, wh- what?"

Her heart is racing. Is... Is Kromer really suggesting such a thing, that she wants to hang out outside of what is already regular for them? That she wants to spend more time with Yuri for no reason than to just hang out? When was the last time anyone asked her for that? For a no-reason, no-strings-attached meeting? Yuri searches Kromer's face for any sign of deception, but she just finds honesty marked by her bashful expression.

Her whole life has been filled with those types of get togethers: she would go to work parties and meetings to discuss work, she would celebrate coworkers' birthdays because they're a year older, she would come over to houses for a special event. There was never a smaller reason, it always had to be something big. Even when she was approached by Gretchen that day, when she was barely getting by as a fallen feather, she was given the offer to join other people as a job. Not because they felt pity for her, not because they knew she was on the verge of just ending her life and she needed someone to talk to, but because of work.

It always comes back to that idea, of work. Yuri's life has always been synonymous with the idea of doing some kind of labor, whether it be moving Abnormality eggs or turning them into one. She's been a cog in the City's machine, an easy employee or instrument to control and use. Her life has... never really been her own, but rather the life of her position. Even if she feels like she's doing something for herself, it has to benefit another person -- the only exception, probably, was when she broke up with Heathcliff, but she ended up getting back with him. And it's not like she regrets it, but... they both benefitted off of getting back together, not just her. So that singular experience was nulled and voided the day they fell asleep in each others' arms. There may be other times, but they're rare enough that she can't recall.

Nobody has ever wanted her around just because. But Kromer speaks of the idea so easily that it's unnatural to Yuri. Kromer doesn't want Yuri to help with undistorting someone, nor does she want her help with something like cleaning or whatever else Yuri has proven herself to be good at. She wants Yuri around because she's herself.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple times. "Are- Are you sure?" she stutters, and what exactly she's wanting to be assured about isn't clear. Are you sure you want it to be me? Are you sure you want to spend time alone? Are you sure you won't regret this?

It's not normal, she thinks, to be so surprised and emotional over something like this. Yuri knew the minute that she survived that she wasn't normal, that she probably never would be -- fuck, she literally can't die, and her coworkers are all insane. Normal is not a luxury for a means to an end, normal is everything she feels she isn't. But Kromer treats her like she's normal. Like she's been normal. Like she hadn't spent a good two weeks alone rotting in her room.

She didn't talk to anyone during that time besides a few comments to herself, and she barely saw any of her colleagues. She thought they wouldn't care, that this was just typical Yuri, that there was no cause for concern. But somehow, with just a few words that were supposed to be reassuring, Kromer picked up on everything Yuri's wanted and more.

Yuri never wanted to be lonely during that time. She never wanted to be isolated, even if it was mostly self-imposed. What she wanted, as lame and pitiful as it is, was for someone to check on her. To knock on her door, or even barge in, and ask if she was alright. To tell her that they hadn't seen her in a while, that they missed her, that they were wondering where she was. Anyone would have worked, really, from her own boyfriend to the Director. But no one came.

Not until now, with the woman who almost made Yuri regret joining Limbus Company at the beginning of their journey. Kromer was - and still is - everything Yuri isn't. She's strong, she's able to think for herself, she can derive her own worth outside of what others perceive her to be. Kromer can move on from the past, while Yuri still thinks often about her branch and Gregor and everything that could have been done differently. Yuri is, and has been, jealous of Kromer. But it's Kromer that cares for her, and it's Kromer that came. The one woman who probably is the most different from Yuri came to her, and says she wants to be friends, and really, really means it.

It means everything.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer nods, while she still seems quite flustered... There is a small mischievous smile on her face now. She seems to be amused by Yuri's shock.

"I'm sure! I wouldn't ask if I wasn't interested." Kromer crosses one leg over the other as she leans back in her chair.

"I'm free most Thursday afternoons. Ladies Nights are earlier in the week, and I don't really hold a solid schedule outside of that. Is that a good day for you?"

Kromer seems to understand that she may need to lead the planning, but she doesn't look bothered at all by it. She seems content with stating things and seeing how Yuri responds.

[lcbyuri]

She really, really, really means it. Overwhelmed for the second time, she barely holds in her happy tears, instead expressing herself with a tight lipped, but obviously overjoyed, smile. "Okay, that sounds, uhm, great! I'm rarely ever busy, so, really, any day works, but Thursday is good. It's our day."

So this is what it feels like to have real friends. What it feels like to be wanted, to not be some kind of summon for people. What it feels like to be a person. There's no plan yet, but they'll make one, and then maybe they can make this a truly regular thing.

Her hands wring themselves out, like she's cleaning herself of all her worries. "I'm excited," she comments. "Really excited. Uhm, thank you..."

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[shewhooncegripped]

The moment Yuri removes the bow Kromer starts getting to work with a small smile on her face, her voice is light as she speaks.

"Oh! I've been trying to hide it, but I made friends with a Mirror World Sinner Sinclair. They stay over sometimes, one time they were around for... Multiple weeks? Though, we both knew her presence would probably make people panic so we tried to be secretive about it."

Kromer's progress falters for a second, as if she's thinking. Her voice comes out a bit more cautious as she continues to talk, "Sinclair's Mirror World is one where she didn't give in to my pressure. She got away. From what I've gathered, in that Mirror World I went off the deep end and was eventually killed. Somewhat similar to our own journey with this world's Sinclair."

Kromer lets silence hang over the room for a second as she works, she seems to be lost in thought.

"At first, when I saw 'Clair... I wanted to seem like I could be a good person. I missed this world's Sinclair, even if it was my choice to leave Nagel und Hammer. So I was trying to act, I was trying to be nice. But we met up to have a fistfight-- ah, don't ask about that-- and 'Clair saw something redeemable in me I guess. They helped me see that own quality within myself, which is why I'm... Different? I don't know... I don't feel different, but looking back... I never would've trusted anyone like I've done with you today. I never would've entertained half of the things my anons do to me. It's... Haah. I don't know. It's a bit sobering realizing how much the people around me can change how I perceive the world?" It takes Kromer a moment to realize she's rambling. When she does, there's a small stammer. Kromer seems almost... Flustered. "Ah-- that wasn't your question... Sorry if I seemed defensive... It's... Uhm... Yes we've watched shows together. I wouldn't be able to name them at all, Sinclair is normally the one that picks them."

Kromer continues her work, despite supposedly not dyeing her own hair she seems quite skilled in what she's doing.

"Oh, please tell me if anything starts to burn or itch. Or generally feels uncomfortable. That would be bad, and we don't want this to be the mirror world where you became bald because you were afraid of offending me~." Kromer appears comfortable enough with Yuri to tease her.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along slightly as Kromer explains her relationship with Sinclair, pausing her movements to show she's at full attention. When the first part of dye is felt on her hair, slightly cold, she goes as still as she can.

"Alright, I will," she replies, staring at the wall. Without any mirror like they usually have at salons, she can only imagine what Kromer is doing to her hair right now. "I mean, if you do accidentally make me bald, that's okay! Uh, there's always wigs!"

Even though her lighthearted comment clears the air a little, Kromer's ramble still bounces around in her head. So, to not make her feel like she just ignored all of it, Yuri thinks about herself.

"Sinclair seems like a nice person," she says cautiously, testing the waters. When Kromer doesn't tell her to change the topic, she continues. "I always got that from them -- the one from our world, I mean. They're just a person who fell for circumstance, I guess, is a way to put it. I can't blame you for missing them, I mean..." Her hands flex under her thighs. "I really missed Heathcliff too, when we broke up. And it was, to some extent, my fault, because I overreacted way too much to something he did and ended up hurting him. I tried to get over him, but the bond that we had, the fact that he understood me better than a lot of the people here, it... Uhm, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to have missed Sinclair! And it's okay that you interact with the other one, though I don't think you need me to tell you that. In fact, I sometimes talk to a Mirror World Gregor and visit him. I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you at all.

It's good that you feel changed because of her. It's also good that you were open-minded with your relationship instead of letting the past make your judgements for you. Now, you know, you're a better person, and I'm sure she is, and both of you are happy, uh, I think. I'm happy to be doing this with you, if that's anything. I'm just happy to hear that you're well, is all... I want us all to get along."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer snorts a little when Yuri tries to reassure her that wigs are fine. But the woman doesn't speak, instead she quietly allows Yuri to continue.

And Kromer listens.

Yuri sounds incredibly lonely. Even if she's speaking to comfort Kromer, even if she's just trying to give a personal anecdote to appear relatable... It only makes her sound more sad. Kromer has been neglecting her relationship with Yuri. All Yuri wants is for people to get along, yet she's too nice. She's too easily overlooked.

The words... They were meant to comfort Kromer. Yet, all Kromer can think about is how she's been ignoring someone right in front of her.

Kromer offers a soft hum to Yuri's kind words as a response. Just to show that she was listening-- just to show the silence wasn't because Kromer was once again ignoring Yuri.

Kromer just needs to think.

...

Ah.

"Yuri. What is a day of the week you are available consistently? I want to hang out with you outside of any Girls Nights or Ladies Nights... Just one on one unless one of us has any guests over." Kromer makes sure to keep her voice light, "any guests can join us."

...

"Just something for us to look forward to each week...?"

There's a brief pause as Kromer suddenly stops touching Yuri's hair.

"I'm gonna sit with you, there's a bit of waiting time. It's kinda like baking cookies, you gotta wait for it to bake. Is there anything you need right now?"

...Kromer seems a bit flustered, perhaps she is embarrassed about the invitation she just offered.

[lcbyuri]

"Uh, waiting is fine, but I..." She's so surprised that she breaks her stillness, turning her head. She's glad Kromer was already done, otherwise she could have put hair dye right on her face. "I- Uhm, wh- what?"

Her heart is racing. Is... Is Kromer really suggesting such a thing, that she wants to hang out outside of what is already regular for them? That she wants to spend more time with Yuri for no reason than to just hang out? When was the last time anyone asked her for that? For a no-reason, no-strings-attached meeting? Yuri searches Kromer's face for any sign of deception, but she just finds honesty marked by her bashful expression.

Her whole life has been filled with those types of get togethers: she would go to work parties and meetings to discuss work, she would celebrate coworkers' birthdays because they're a year older, she would come over to houses for a special event. There was never a smaller reason, it always had to be something big. Even when she was approached by Gretchen that day, when she was barely getting by as a fallen feather, she was given the offer to join other people as a job. Not because they felt pity for her, not because they knew she was on the verge of just ending her life and she needed someone to talk to, but because of work.

It always comes back to that idea, of work. Yuri's life has always been synonymous with the idea of doing some kind of labor, whether it be moving Abnormality eggs or turning them into one. She's been a cog in the City's machine, an easy employee or instrument to control and use. Her life has... never really been her own, but rather the life of her position. Even if she feels like she's doing something for herself, it has to benefit another person -- the only exception, probably, was when she broke up with Heathcliff, but she ended up getting back with him. And it's not like she regrets it, but... they both benefitted off of getting back together, not just her. So that singular experience was nulled and voided the day they fell asleep in each others' arms. There may be other times, but they're rare enough that she can't recall.

Nobody has ever wanted her around just because. But Kromer speaks of the idea so easily that it's unnatural to Yuri. Kromer doesn't want Yuri to help with undistorting someone, nor does she want her help with something like cleaning or whatever else Yuri has proven herself to be good at. She wants Yuri around because she's herself.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple times. "Are- Are you sure?" she stutters, and what exactly she's wanting to be assured about isn't clear. Are you sure you want it to be me? Are you sure you want to spend time alone? Are you sure you won't regret this?

It's not normal, she thinks, to be so surprised and emotional over something like this. Yuri knew the minute that she survived that she wasn't normal, that she probably never would be -- fuck, she literally can't die, and her coworkers are all insane. Normal is not a luxury for a means to an end, normal is everything she feels she isn't. But Kromer treats her like she's normal. Like she's been normal. Like she hadn't spent a good two weeks alone rotting in her room.

She didn't talk to anyone during that time besides a few comments to herself, and she barely saw any of her colleagues. She thought they wouldn't care, that this was just typical Yuri, that there was no cause for concern. But somehow, with just a few words that were supposed to be reassuring, Kromer picked up on everything Yuri's wanted and more.

Yuri never wanted to be lonely during that time. She never wanted to be isolated, even if it was mostly self-imposed. What she wanted, as lame and pitiful as it is, was for someone to check on her. To knock on her door, or even barge in, and ask if she was alright. To tell her that they hadn't seen her in a while, that they missed her, that they were wondering where she was. Anyone would have worked, really, from her own boyfriend to the Director. But no one came.

Not until now, with the woman who almost made Yuri regret joining Limbus Company at the beginning of their journey. Kromer was - and still is - everything Yuri isn't. She's strong, she's able to think for herself, she can derive her own worth outside of what others perceive her to be. Kromer can move on from the past, while Yuri still thinks often about her branch and Gregor and everything that could have been done differently. Yuri is, and has been, jealous of Kromer. But it's Kromer that cares for her, and it's Kromer that came. The one woman who probably is the most different from Yuri came to her, and says she wants to be friends, and really, really means it.

It means everything.

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[shewhooncegripped]

The moment Yuri removes the bow Kromer starts getting to work with a small smile on her face, her voice is light as she speaks.

"Oh! I've been trying to hide it, but I made friends with a Mirror World Sinner Sinclair. They stay over sometimes, one time they were around for... Multiple weeks? Though, we both knew her presence would probably make people panic so we tried to be secretive about it."

Kromer's progress falters for a second, as if she's thinking. Her voice comes out a bit more cautious as she continues to talk, "Sinclair's Mirror World is one where she didn't give in to my pressure. She got away. From what I've gathered, in that Mirror World I went off the deep end and was eventually killed. Somewhat similar to our own journey with this world's Sinclair."

Kromer lets silence hang over the room for a second as she works, she seems to be lost in thought.

"At first, when I saw 'Clair... I wanted to seem like I could be a good person. I missed this world's Sinclair, even if it was my choice to leave Nagel und Hammer. So I was trying to act, I was trying to be nice. But we met up to have a fistfight-- ah, don't ask about that-- and 'Clair saw something redeemable in me I guess. They helped me see that own quality within myself, which is why I'm... Different? I don't know... I don't feel different, but looking back... I never would've trusted anyone like I've done with you today. I never would've entertained half of the things my anons do to me. It's... Haah. I don't know. It's a bit sobering realizing how much the people around me can change how I perceive the world?" It takes Kromer a moment to realize she's rambling. When she does, there's a small stammer. Kromer seems almost... Flustered. "Ah-- that wasn't your question... Sorry if I seemed defensive... It's... Uhm... Yes we've watched shows together. I wouldn't be able to name them at all, Sinclair is normally the one that picks them."

Kromer continues her work, despite supposedly not dyeing her own hair she seems quite skilled in what she's doing.

"Oh, please tell me if anything starts to burn or itch. Or generally feels uncomfortable. That would be bad, and we don't want this to be the mirror world where you became bald because you were afraid of offending me~." Kromer appears comfortable enough with Yuri to tease her.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along slightly as Kromer explains her relationship with Sinclair, pausing her movements to show she's at full attention. When the first part of dye is felt on her hair, slightly cold, she goes as still as she can.

"Alright, I will," she replies, staring at the wall. Without any mirror like they usually have at salons, she can only imagine what Kromer is doing to her hair right now. "I mean, if you do accidentally make me bald, that's okay! Uh, there's always wigs!"

Even though her lighthearted comment clears the air a little, Kromer's ramble still bounces around in her head. So, to not make her feel like she just ignored all of it, Yuri thinks about herself.

"Sinclair seems like a nice person," she says cautiously, testing the waters. When Kromer doesn't tell her to change the topic, she continues. "I always got that from them -- the one from our world, I mean. They're just a person who fell for circumstance, I guess, is a way to put it. I can't blame you for missing them, I mean..." Her hands flex under her thighs. "I really missed Heathcliff too, when we broke up. And it was, to some extent, my fault, because I overreacted way too much to something he did and ended up hurting him. I tried to get over him, but the bond that we had, the fact that he understood me better than a lot of the people here, it... Uhm, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to have missed Sinclair! And it's okay that you interact with the other one, though I don't think you need me to tell you that. In fact, I sometimes talk to a Mirror World Gregor and visit him. I'd be a hypocrite if I judged you at all.

It's good that you feel changed because of her. It's also good that you were open-minded with your relationship instead of letting the past make your judgements for you. Now, you know, you're a better person, and I'm sure she is, and both of you are happy, uh, I think. I'm happy to be doing this with you, if that's anything. I'm just happy to hear that you're well, is all... I want us all to get along."

[eternal-haunt]

The last time @lcbyuri ran away from danger, the guilt from the event strangled her and continues to do so today. Remnants of her past cling onto her, blind her judgement and hold her down so she can only watch as those around her fall like the building, like the bodies.

And... she's a coward, and she's terribly insecure, and she lets peoples' words affect her too much. She's afraid of doing the wrong thing, so much so that it handicaps her more often than not, leaving her missing out on so many things and so many people. Certainly, she's afraid now, as she hesitantly steps into the weakpoint of the backdoor and crosses into her second home, tasting the air tinged with sorrow and terror. She's afraid as her eyes adjust to the light and she sees the aftermath of a rampage, the guiding violet light turned into a warning. She's afraid as she comes close enough to become involved as opposed to being a bystander.

Last time, she ran away. Because of it, she lives encaged. But now...

She's unarmed, with only her words as her sword and shield, and she knows that will be enough.

"Heathcliff."

The ragged cocoon shifts and loosens. It had not changed at all. Upon hearing her voice, however, the violet gaze softens in intensity. Even as a distortion, he always had a trickle of humanity that he held dear. It turned to face her.

"Yuri...?" It softly murmurs.

Its body arches down to meet her level. Its voice had noticeably softened. It was more... quiet than before.

[lcbyuri]

It's a lot to take in at once. Compared to the previous distortion she witnessed, the mass of melted bodies, this one is more... personal. It's still as frightening, although she wouldn't say that back then she was as scared as she is now.

Her eye shifts to Gabriel, and for a moment, she almost considers turning back and letting them deal with it. After all, why insert herself into things she has nothing to really do with, like Yuzuki said?

...But Yuzuki also said that violence is the only way to teach people a lesson, and as seen in the massacre at her feet, bloodshed did nothing. Violence only creates discord and hurt, and hurt people hurt people. Whatever she did to Kromer, Yuri plays a part in the blame, for having allowed Yuzuki to invalidate the bonds of their bus.

She gives a nod of acknowledgement to the manager, a silent reassurance, before her attention goes on her world. Face-to-face, her heart begins to ease. Her hand is held out in offering. "Mhm, it's me. What happened?"

[eternal-haunt]

The spiked thorns upon its arm shrink in order to feel her hand. Its surface was rough, yet warm. A sign of life. A slight tear escapes one of the eyes as it gazes upon her.

"These chains..." It utters weakly. "I understand now... I cannot break them on my own..."

He understands. He still is unable to let go of the past. These chains are his past. Letting go of the past, breaking the chains, sets him free. Free to live.

She is the key.

[lcbyuri]

It's a non-answer answer, one that she won't push. Instead, she curls her fingers slightly to hold his hand, feeling Heathcliff.

"I know you're in there, Heath. It's okay, I'm here. What do you need?"

A light chuckle leaves her lips, a magical sound in this tense time.

"A kiss, like last time?"

Just as soon as it appeared, the lighthearted expression weakens, her gaze and smile falling to an echo of her positivity.

"I don't want to hurt you. I won't -- uhm. so, uhm, if you know how to fix this, I... I won't leave you. I won't leave anyone again, I want to help, I- I really do, so-

-so let me help you, Heathcliff. Like you've helped me, because I love you."

How corny, she thinks to herself, but it's honest.

[eternal-haunt]

"The past..." It utters once again. "I must be freed from the past. Freed from this everlasting punishment."

The distortion lowers its body even further to reach her. It presses its head against hers, closing its eyes. The violet light no longer brings danger but rather warmth towards the area.

"You are the key, Yuri." It continues. "The key to breaking these chains."

[lcbyuri]

"Very literal," she muses quietly, also closing her eye and feeling -- really feeling him. Her heart is now at its natural rhythm, if not a bit faster from their proximity. There's long, comfortable silence between them.

"I couldn't imagine ever being the reason someone is saved. Ah... it's a bit much, even if I've done it before, right?"

With him, she finds it easier to voice her thoughts, regardless of their content...

"I don't know, it's just different. I don't want you to rely on me and then for me to disappoint you. But we can, uhm, unpack that later, I-"

Her eye squeezes closed. Focus.

"Hah. It'll be okay. We'll be okay. I want to help you, even if I feel like I can't. Even if I'm way rusty, or not a perfect fit the first time, I'll at least try unlock it..."

Really, the only tried and proven method is to kiss him, so...

Her head tilts slightly, her breath ghosting over his "skin." There's a centimeter or two of space, a quiet asking of consent.

[eternal-haunt]

"Thank you." It softly whispers, as the jagged thorns retract even more. The eyes close one by one.

He knew that she would be the one to break the spell. She had done it before. Who's to say she wouldn't do it again?

Because even when the past binds him, he's still able to look forward towards the future.

He leans in, softly approaching her to approve of her consent.

The moment he opened his eyes again, he felt it. The restraints were loose. He gazes upon himself. His skin. His human skin. The blood may still be able to continue staining his hands, yet there is no point in dwelling on such stains anymore.

[lcbyuri]

Now, her heart is definitely beating a lot faster.

"Hey, handsome," she greets, her radiant smile back, if not a little hesitant. "Are you feeling okay? Hurt anywhere?"

Her hands ghost over his waist, treating him delicately as he recovers. He looks worn out, tired, yet she can sense the love in his gaze and the effort he puts in to stay standing despite the post-Distortion exhaustion. It was silly to be afraid for just that single moment, because he would never hurt her.

And she helped him. She came and helped him despite her anxieties, ending with her doing something right. Fuck, she literally saved him. She's done it time and time again, but this time, it really settles in. Pride fills her chest, and she smiles a little wider, cheeks full.

[eternal-haunt]

"I feel... relieved." He responds softly, dropping to his knees as a subtly smile rises onto his face. Tears roll down his eyes once more. Tears of sorrow? No. Tears of joy, they were.

He rises up, bringing himself into Yuri's arms as he gently hugs her.

"I couldn't thank you enough."

[lcbyuri]

She squeaks as she's hugged suddenly, going tense before relaxing and reciprocating the affection. "Don't thank me. I didn't do anything that needs to be thanked... And don't cry, because it'll make me cry..."

Her eyes close as she rests her head against his. "Take all the time you need to rest. I'm right here, and I won't go anywhere unless you want."

A soft sigh leaves her lips. Warm...

[eternal-haunt]

"It's alright." He comments as he wipes the tears from his face. "I'm merely happy to know that I have survived."

He lets out a soft, relieved chuckle as he feels her warmth against his.

His warmth.

The sign that he is alive. It had never left him.

The peace is interrupted slightly as Gabriel heads towards the two.

-<Hey, um... Sorry if I wasn't really able to help all that well. Glad to see you're okay, though.>- They announce. -<If you want any help in the future, just give me a call, alright? Sure, work may be making me lose my sleep schedule, but I'll still have time to check in every now and then. How's that sound?>-

He glances towards his manager. "I suppose it shall help along the way." He answers. "No matter how long it takes, I will make sure it is beneficial towards my path."

[lcbyuri]

She cracks open her eye to acknowledge the manager for a brief moment before going back to hugging, matching the tempo of her breathing with his and nuzzling his shoulder. When Gabriel's footsteps are no longer heard, she murmurs, "They're able to sleep?"

It's just a strange and sudden observation that it even makes her surprised, an irrelevant notice that barely has anything to do with the things that just happened. But in a way, it proves that things are alright again.

[eternal-haunt]

The manager lets out a slight laugh. Although, I was just silence and a slight head movement.

-<And I still don't know how I'm able to.>- They remark. -<Anyhow, I think it's best to give you two some alone time for now. Not to mention, we'll need to give Samsa a mercy kill so I can actually revert his injuries.>-

So, Gabriel bids the Erlking farewell, dragging an unconscious Samsa back to the bus with the other sinners following along. However, before she fully departs, Panza stops in her tracks, silently giving her co-worker a nod of affirmation before leaving to catch up with the rest.

[lcbyuri]

"Blegh. For some reason, the name of the other-Gregor leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Probably just his ties to N Corp, though."

She doesn't notice Panza's nod, nor the other Sinners leaving, focusing solely on Heathcliff. When they're all gone, she peeks her head out, only her eye visible from his sight. "What do you want to do? We have... a lot of time. Gabriel said so, anyway. I'm fine with anything."

She'd go as far as to say she's content just standing here until they get too cold and have to go inside, but that's an idealistic worldview. Although she could probably last a while, she's gotten used to warm blankets and layers, so she chuckles to herself.

[eternal-haunt]

He chuckles slightly over Yuri's remark regarding Samsa. "Yes, he is quite the handful." He comments.

"I suppose we could rest here for a while." He then adds. "After all, I have gotten rather exhausted after all of that. And we might as well catch up with one another. I suppose you and your other co-workers have gotten rather busy from time to time."

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, yeah, busy..."

Busy isn't the word to describe her in comparison to the rest of the bus. She has no clue what they've been up to, but Yuri herself has been hiding in her room for the past 2 or so weeks and has barely gone outside. Today is probably the longest time she's seen the sky in days, which is... concerning, and the reason she nods along.

"Come on, let's go find somewhere to sit. and you can tell me all about what you've been doing. Ah, I haven't been up to anything special--" a severe overstatement, because she wasn't doing anything, "--so I'll let you go first."

[eternal-haunt]

Softly nodding, he leads Yuri towards the living room, resting her near the fireplace as he sits alongside her.

"Hm... Well, I suppose I could be able to start with the Walpurgis Night we faced a couple of weeks ago." He began. "I suppose if was quite the bit of fresh air that we were facing an abnormality instead of an ordeal. Although, I did receive a new identity out of it, though. I believe it is one of my strongest yet."

As he trails along with his tangent, a spark of passion rises within his eyes. A clear sign of vibrant life. For him, it felt relieving to witness that life be regained, but he knew it was there all along. It was just lost within the smoke-ridden sea.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along, taking a part of her hair to braid so she can stay focused and busy at the same time. She'll form a plait, then undo it, then make it again, all while listening to him go on about the perceived strength of the Sword Sharpened with Tears. Honestly, she usually lets someone like Jane or Kromer handle the battle logistics, so she doesn't really understand what he's saying, but she tries her best. In all, it sounds very strong and cool, and she expresses this to him when he takes a pause.

The light in his eyes makes it even easier to listen, as she knows he's back to his normal self. He has something to be excited about, something that is his that he is allowing her to hear. It's not really a secret, Sinner IDs are well-known amongst the bus group, but the way he tells her makes it feel like one. All she can feel is excited for him, that he is even stronger, as well as pride.

[eternal-haunt]

"...All in all, I suppose handling such strength is a sign of progress. Being able to clear the battlefield quicker than before." He concludes, letting out a sigh as he regains his breath. Gazing upon Yuri fiddling with her hair, his eyes widen slightly like a curious cat. "I suppose I got rather off-track there."

[lcbyuri]

"Hm? No, nonono, it was interesting, I promise! Sorry, I just needed something to do. I promise I was listening," she reassures, her eye wide. "That's good that you can spend less time fighting. I worry a lot, you know, and I hate seeing you hurt. Ah, when they told me you Distorted..."

Actually, when they told her he Distorted, her first thought was that it was too early in the morning for this. Then it was concern, overwhelming amounts, with anxiety layered on top, leaving her paralyzed. But he doesn't need to know about that, so she lets him fill in the blank.

Her embarrassment wears off, and she notes his look. Cute. Letting go of her braid, the hair coming undone at the bottom, she supports herself as she leans back. "Anything else special happen to you?"

[eternal-haunt]

He quickly reverts to pondering until another recollection clicks within his mind.

"Ah, I do recall another event that occurred recently." He announces. "I came in contact with a person who was the child of another variant of mine. It makes me think of how interesting discovering worlds you have not previously known of can be."

He lets out a soft and gentle laugh.

"The child of that variant was with Catherine, though. The one who got erased." He adds. A vague hint of sorrow within. "They remember her, but do not know what happened to her. As if she merely went missing."

Noticing the reminiscence, he quickly stops.

"Perhaps we should move on to a lighter topic than recalling an erased person. Not after... well... I believe you already know."

[lcbyuri]

"Catherine..." she echoes, tone thoughtful. "Ah, is this like the Cathy name you made me remember? I wrote it down on my PDA so I wouldn't forget."

Upon his suggestion (personal request, really), she hums. "Well, I bet they're a cute kid and you're a good dad to them. I bet you spoil them rotten.

I wonder if I want children... ah, it's too early to say, isn't it? I heard they're devils, anyway. I can barely take care of myself, haha!"

Her eye flits to him. "Do you want kids?"

How is this what they're talking about?

[eternal-haunt]

"Yes, that Catherine. I'm glad you still remember." He utters. Even if it's only her name she remembers, it's enough. No more, no less.

On the new topic, however...

"Well, I'm unsure as of now. I already have several abnormalities to take care of here, after all. In a way, they are children all on their own, are they not?"

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, right! And there's all the birds, too... You have your hands full completely. Don't let the manor turn into too much of a zoo," she playfully comments, smiling. "Where do you fit in time for me if you're taking care of them?"

A pause.

"Wait. Abnormalities?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Yes, I may have also received a Dream-Devouring Siltcurrent." He adds. "The Heathcliff of Lobotomy Corporation aided in creating its enclosure. It's gotten rather tame ever since. As much as I might be able to obtain more through messenger gifts, I'm unsure as to whether or not this manor might become more of a labyrinth than a zoo."

[lcbyuri]

Her mouth drops, staring incredulously at him. "Huh? A- A what? Huh? In the manor? Where you sleep? Are you crazy?" Yes.

Struggling to form a kind and appropriate response, she flounders some more before deciding to just let him live. He's had it thusfar and been fine, so surely he doesn't need her nagging about how dangerous that is and whatnot. Heathcliff can handle himself just fine, with or without an Abnormality in the building.

"Maybe just... don't. Uhm, accept any, uh, anymore? For the time being," is the only advice she can give, looking behind her as if the Siltcurrent will just appear. "How are you calm about this? What- What else do you have, besides the birds?"

[eternal-haunt]

Yes. Yes, he was crazy, but in a good sort of way. He couldn't deny it any longer with what he had said.

Giving a nod of affirmation, he continues. "Another messenger may have also gifted me a small pack of wolves. Although, they enjoy the outside more than the inside. Even then, that does not stop some of them from wandering inside to greet me. Despite their quietness, they are fond of anyone who are acquaintances with me."

[lcbyuri]

"...Wolves," she echoes breathlessly, shock imbued in the single word. "Huh."

He really turned his manor into some kind of animal and abnormality adoption center. Of course he did. She'll never understand rich people, although he isn't really rich himself, per se. Plus, she has all the birds, so... There's something hypocritical in there, about her judging (?) him.

"Well, uhm, as long as it makes you happy!" she says with a slightly too cheery voice, hazarding a glance at his lips and then his chest. Damn. "Does Miss Nelly help you take care of them, or something? And Lob Corp Heathcliff, him too?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Of course." He continues. "I suppose it has begun to be a part of our routine now."

He wonders about what else he could talk about, and something else clicks in his mind.

"Although, wrapping around back to the original topic, I remember something else that had occurred on the bus not so long ago." He begins. "A few messengers were meddling with powers beyond their control and trapped Samsa in a strange space between worlds for a couple of days. We were able to get him out, though."

[lcbyuri]

"Mhm, that's a shame..." She's zoned out staring at him, evident in how she trails off and her blank expression. After a moment, though, she comes back to herself, blinking a couple times and looking clueless. "Oh, uh, you- uhh, well, he looked fine earlier, you know, besides being knocked out! So you did a good job getting him out! Ohh, it's- The anons, they have way too much power. Do you not have regulations on what you can accept or have done to you? For us, Gretchen -- uh, that's the 2nd Sinner, she allows us to decline any anons that would pose an immediate threat to us or the bus. Of course, that doesn't mean that we can just decline everything, like, uh, spontaneous combusion, because that's out of our control, but things like people, Color Fixers, even..."

[eternal-haunt]

"I suppose they were merely experimenting, though, as they were trying to gift him a golden bough." He carries on. "Somehow, in some way, the golden bough corrupted, morphing into something with similar properties to a black hole. Then, the messengers thought it would be a fun idea to multiply the corrupt bough until it collapsed in on itself and tore a hole through reality itself, creating a gateway into that void. Luckily, the boughs we had previously collected were enough to seal it before it could worsen."

[lcbyuri]

"I-I'm sorry?" She's back to making eye contact. "It did- What?"

The more she hears about Heathcliff's bus, the more thankful she is that she is on her own. Sure, it can be brutal sometimes, like with coworker conflicts and Distortions, but those have seemingly died down, and weren't anywhere on the scale of a whole black hole. And sure, she still doesn't like Samsa for some reason, but even she can admit that trapping him in something like that is overly cruel.

"Is- Uh, did he come out of it, like, fine? Doesn't time warp in black holes? How long was he in there for? Were you okay during it? See, this is why you need someone who can regulate what you're given through anons, you know... Imagine if that was you. Do you know how worried I'd be? Why would he even accept it? Does he not have void tickets like the rest of us?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Gabriel and Faust have begun to research into how such a possibility could occur, as well as potentially researching into the void itself." He explains. "They do plan on interviewing Samsa soon in order to gather information on his experience. For now, it remains a mystery to us. And it is less than certain that he has void tickets. Although, I usually categorise the gifts and spells received in order of either preference or convenience to the current situation."

[lcbyuri]

"Then someone needs to give him some," she concludes, raising a finger to point at him. Her nails have been bitten down. "I'm not saying you should, you don't owe him anything, but it's the safety of the bus. Or just give some to Gabriel and then have them give the tickets to Samsa, but don't mention who they were originally from. Something nice like that, you know?"

Her body shifts so she can rest her head on his lap, turned towards the fire.

"How are the Head not after you? I mean, a whole black hole... no, even before that, a bough just manifested out of nowhere... The Head was after me for a little bit just because I was alive, you know. So there's no way they're letting something like that go. I guess you guys just keep secrets really well, huh?"

[eternal-haunt]

"The Backdoor holds many secrets." He comments, resting his hand upon Yuri's shoulder. "I suppose I am quite surprised as well. Although I am unsure if the head had ever dealt with literal tears through the fabric of reality. Either way, it is certain that we must make sure that it does not happen again. Even if it is for mere 'research purposes'."

[lcbyuri]

"Mhm," she hums, putting her hand on top of his. "I'm sure it won't. I don't know who Faust is, but I'm sure Gabriel and them will be able to find something useful and then create a sort of preventative measure. Maybe even better than void tickets, with a better chance of succeeding."

Her fingers idly run over the back of his palm, tracing meaningless, mindless shapes. They fall into comforting silence, only the crackle of the fire filling the air.

Silence has been her friend for a while, and she had become intimately familiar with it when she locked herself up in her room. It's been a constant her whole life, even from when she used to work in L Corp and had to hide when Abnormalities breached containment. Her hand pressed to her mouth, darkness all around her. Usually, silence indicates some kind of danger or threat to conceal herself from, but here, it takes a better meaning. Instead of being like cotton stuffed in her ears and down her mouth, muting her to the world around her, it becomes a means of focus. A way to look up at Heathcliff's face and admire his scars, his eyes, him. It feels very normal, being here, and the world doesn't feel out to get them for once.

"Handsome," she murmurs.

[eternal-haunt]

He gazes contently towards her, gently wrapping his fingers around her hair until he slowly lets go of it. Before his time at the LCDB, he was not all too fond of company. Within his crusade, he had always believed he was a lone wolf. Wandering the dark forests, hunting for prey.

As it turns out, he was no lone wolf. He was merely a lonely rabbit, finding solitude and comfort in the arms of ones he was close to. Then, company became comfort, and solitude became silence.

[lcbyuri]

She smiles, closing her eyes. It's perfectly peaceful between them, as all things should be. "I love you," she whispers, reaching up with her free hand to cup his cheek, "so much. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner to help you. I hope you didn't think that I left you alone."

[lcbyuri]

[There's a firm knock on Yuri's door! It's Kromer!]

Yuri, I have a small... Predicament I may need your help with. Also... If you want I can dye your hair while we talk.

[Kromer standing on the other side of the door has herself covered in a bedsheet. Though... It's not hiding much. There's a set of wings poorly being hidden by the sheet, Kromer doesn't seem to have enough control over them to keep them against her body.]

[Both of Kromer's eyes are displayed, with her bangs being pinned to the side with a golden diamond hair clip. The woman's hair is out of its usual ponytail, and there are two long animal ears on the top of her head.]

I brought several selections of colors... Just in case, fuhuhu. I just need you to help me with these things.

[The wings flare out as if they realize they are being spoken about.]

@shewhooncegripped

As Yuri opens her door to someone for the first time in forever, her head poking out of the small crack she creates, her tired eyes immediately widen. It's further opened to where they can have a proper conversation, and she reveals herself to be in a similar state to Kromer, albiet without all the extra features. Just a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, whose expression grows more and more concerned.

"Are- Are you okay, Kromer?" she hesitantly asks, specifically eyeing the wings. There's a feeling that that's what Kromer is here for, that someone ratted her out and told her about the time Yuri had wings. Even then, don't they know that she barely took care of herself, that she pulled a feather out of curiosity and almost cried, that she caged herself in even though she could fly? Yuri feels she's the worst person to ask for help taking care of something as fragile as this, but she doesn't want to turn Kromer down. It'd be wrong to do that, to reject her in a time of need, so she steps to the side to let her in. "You can sit on the bed, sorry it's a mess... What happened?"

The door is closed behind Kromer, and there's slight hesitance in Yuri's turn. On top of feeling worried and panicked, there's a growing embarrassment at the state of her room: dust from outside her window has blown in, leaving a grey patch on the floor, her bed isn't made, and objects on the shelves have all become out of place besides one, making it look even more strange amidst the mess. Maybe to console herself, she kicks a tissue to the side, watching it roll before stopping by her trash full of the same thing. Then, her eyes go back to the wings. They're much nicer than the ones she had, she notes, and much prettier. It suits Kromer a lot.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer doesn't comment on the mess, she barely even offers it a glance. Everyone has bad days... Or weeks. Kromer can't judge.

Instead she sits, setting the bedsheet wrapped around her to the side to show all of her new changes. The random idol outfit, the horse ears and tail, and then the fluffy wings on her back.

Keomer sets her bag with the sheet as she gives her full attention to Yuri. One of the ears twitches while she speaks, "an anon gave me horse features... Which for some reason put me in this outfit. Another anon wanted to gift me a pegasus, and I declined the offer... Only for them to turn me into a pegasus instead."

Kromer sighs, as she does so her tail lashes. The woman looks up at Yuri.

"I'm not injured or in a bad mood, I'm mostly confused. Maybe slightly panicked. It's not professional to have this appearance and I need a way to hide everything." Kromer's wings flare as she says that, almost as if they are already arguing against being hidden. The wings appear white with a gold spangle on the coverts. The primary feathers look as if they were dipped in red ink at the tips. Kromer's face doesn't change as she examines her wings, they look regal but also would likely attract a lot of unneeded attention.

Kromer turns her attention to Yuri again. The 13th Sinner appears anxious. With a sigh, Kromer pats the bed next to her as an invitation for her coworker to sit down.

[lcbyuri]

Her expression only grows more and more worried, even with Kromer's reassurances, and Yuri finds herself moving to her side without her previously displayed hesitation. Her eye glosses over everything before settling on her shoulders. "I'm sorry about that, Kromer... it didn't hurt, did it? To get the wings and stuff. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"

There's hidden irony that only Yuri knows in having Kromer come to her and ask her for advice, since when Yuri underwent something like this, her first instinct was to hide away from everyone else till it was over. She could always recommend this method, it worked for her, but something tells her it's not the type of strategy that Kromer would like. It's inaction against Kromer's enjoyment of action, and while Yuri was perfectly fine with staying in one place, Kromer has people who enjoy coming over to see her and who she enjoys seeing. Yuri has to say something that Kromer will think is a good idea so that both of them can get through this. Maybe she's overreacting a bit, it's just some extra parts and a pretty outfit, but isn't it only fair to be like this when one of her friends (?) is suffering?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer closes her eyes, a frown makes its way onto her face. "It hurt... A lot. It was quick, but it was extremely painful. The... Horse stuff didn't hurt at all though. Just a bit jarring to have everything change. Was it that bad for whatever happened to you?"

When Kromer opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at Yuri's face. The other looks absolutely miserable. She looks anxious.

Is it Kromer's presence?

...It can't be. Kromer has been under the impression that her relationship with Yuri is one of her better friendships on the bus.

Maybe Yuri needs something to do. She looks like she's getting stuck in her head.

Thus, Kromer shakes out her wings before settling one in Yuri's personal space. Almost in her lap, almost in her face. It's big enough to just... Be in the way.

"ah, sorry... I guess these things have a mind of their own. I didn't mean to do that." There is a brief pause. "You can touch it if you want." Kromer very much intended to fwap Yuri with her wing. It may be demeaning to be pet like an animal, but it may keep Yuri occupied. And... That's what matters more to Kromer at this moment.

[lcbyuri]

The feeling of the soft feathers against her exposed skin is enough to shake her out of her mind, making her jolt slightly and perk up. "Ah," she breathes, blinking a few more times to orient herself. Mindlessly, she had been tensing up her fingers, and now they're stiff.

"S- Uhm, sorry about that. I zoned out, aha," she says, giving Kromer a poor attempt at a reassuring smile. "And don't worry, it didn't hurt, don't apologize!"

Only to please the request made, not wanting to make Kromer even more uncomfortable wirh her presence, she tentatively reaches out and strokes the wing offered. Her movements are delicate, treating the feathers like they're fragile, and she tries to position her fingers in a way that leaves no possibility for Kromer being hurt. It's enough to ground her for the time being as she falls into a natural, gentle rhythm. Ever so now and then, perhaps every 3 or so strokes, she'll check Kromer's expression for half a second just to make sure she's doing it right. Each reassurance makes her heart calm down just a slight more.

"What happened to me..." she starts, trying to find the best words to use, "Wasn't that bad. Uhm, I also grew wings, but they weren't nearly as pretty as yours, and I dealt with it fine. They went away quickly."

The lies fall smooth off her tongue, groups of honeyed syllables meant to smother any concern that could be created. "Plus, I only had the wings. You have all this other stuff to worry about... I'm sorry that this happened to you, Kromer. If it helps at all, uhm, you look pretty cool, and I'm sure the others on the bus would understand! We've all been a victim to getting changed, aha..."

[shewhooncegripped]

When Yuri checks in on Kromer, the woman has her eyes closed. The horse ears have a droop to them, as if they are relaxed. It appears that the touch on her wing is pleasant enough to allow Kromer to lower her guard.

Yet, Kromer snaps to attention the moment Yuri starts talking about her own experience. When Kromer receives flattery her expression doesn't change, yet her tail twitches and her wings puff up. The woman seems to be absorbing all of the information.

"You're right. I guess it isn't anything that would realistically keep me from working... Your view makes sense. But... Do you think it would make me more weak than I already am? My wings just make me a bigger target and I would prefer to avoid being a liability for Jante." Kromer's tail lashes at this thought process. She appears to take Yuri's words seriously enough to trust the other's input.

[lcbyuri]

A weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she sees Kromer's expression, relief flooding her system. So far, so good, she thinks, and when Kromer speaks and tells her that her interpretation is correct, she feels even better. However, at the second part, the calm waters of her mind begin to form waves.

"What?" Her hand stills. "Kromer, you aren't weak! Who said that you were? You're not weak at all, you're the strongest person I know -- or one of them, at least! You could never be a liability, and I'm sure that we could work around your wings in the Mirror Dungeons if you're concerned about getting hurt an extra lot. Plus, uhm, you could also make them into a weapon, you know, if you manage to control them...?"

The last part meant to come out more as a statement, maybe some parts joking, but her desire for Kromer's approval of her own ideas gets in the way. At Kromer's tail lashing about, Yuri begins petting the wing again to soothe her, but her own worries seem to be tainting the air again. The furrowing of her brow, the tone she used to protest... she can't stop feeling this pit in her stomach, a poorly-settled cocktail of emotions that want to help but fear messing up.

[shewhooncegripped]

"A.... Weapon. That is an interesting proposition. I'll have to see if I can train them quick enough to be that efficient." Kromer gets a small smile, there's even a playful spark to her eyes.

Yet... When the petting resumes, all worry appears to seep out of Kromer. It seems that this gentle moment shared between them is enough to calm Kromer. Kromer leans forward to curl in on herself as her wings fall completely lax. The woman truly seems to enjoy the preening.

....

Kromer doesn't even know when she closed her eyes. Yet, she opens them just a smidge. Enough to look at Yuri.

"You seem sad." Kromer says this as a statement. She doesn't pry, she doesn't avoid, she doesn't even necessarily seem worried. It's almost as if she's making an observation. An invitation for a friend to talk.

[lcbyuri]

Her reaction is milder than she expected of herself. Instead of pausing again or being taken off guard, she just hums after the words settle in, and continues her ministrations. Her expression is back to being attentive and calm, knowing that Kromer feels relaxed.

"Do I?" she asks in a quieter tone, worrying her tongue between her teeth as she thinks. "I thought I always seem that way, haha."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Kromer's statement is obvious -- the messy room, the slight bag under Yuri's visible eye, the way her expression is permanently in thought and the space between her brows has a wrinkle. She wishes that it wasn't that way, that the private space of her room was for her own feelings, but in the end, this is a bus with other people. Someone was bound to find out and ask questions, worry themselves with her wellbeing, because they are a team and that is what team members do. That is also what friends do.

Her joke falls flat like the rest of her statements thusfar, so she decides to speak on for the sake of conversation. That, and to prove Kromer right, so that the growing concern that she has can be nipped in the bud. "I've just been having those kinds of days... But I'm fine now, no need to worry. I won't Distort or anything..!

Uhm, you know, how have you been? Other than this entire situation."

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer keeps her eyes on Yuri even as the other continues to play with her wings.

"I see the subject change. I won't push you to speak if you don't want to, but it won't help anyone if you keep it locked inside." Kromer shifts a bit, the feathers on her wings puff up before slowly smoothing out. The woman gives a soft sigh, "life has been... Stressful. But having a support system like Dongbaek and Don Quixote-- even you here... I guess it makes things easier. I don't have to worry as much."

Kromer averts her gaze to the bed.

"...Did you know that the Sinclair of this Mirror World survived?"

Kromer's face holds... A myriad of complex emotions at sharing this news.

"I don't know how I feel about it... I thought he was finally at peace."

[lcbyuri]

How unfortunate, Yuri thinks, that Kromer has chosen her to be a part of her support system. Others would be better, like Marie or Penelope... But she can't deny the title, that's ill-mannered, so she bites back her self-loathing and nods in response. There are other things to gnaw at her heart, anyway, like the fact that Kromer has a support system at all. At least she's been allowed to keep it all bottled up, a privilege she will take regardless of Kromer's advice against it. Some struggles are hers to run through alone.

At the news, her head lifts slightly, expression changing from perpetual worry to something fresh: surprise, as mild as it is. She had never enjoyed Sinclair's presence and policies and personality, as they didn't exactly seem to line up with her moral standards -- she doubts they lined up with anyone's besides a much more naïve Kromer. It had always been the bus' knowledge that Sinclair had been killed by someone, that a ray of light had taken him away and he had been presumed dead by the LCCA. There wasn't any evidence ever to say otherwise, and there isn't any now, but the way Kromer says it... Aside from there being no reason to lie, she's in a vulnerable state of mind. It shows in her tone.

Finally, Yuri makes eye contact with Kromer. Or as close to eye contact as she can, where she looks at Kromer who is looking at the bed. It makes it easier for her, in a way. "Are you... okay?"

Sinclair, who had, ironically, sinned more than the Sinners who defeated him, doesn't deserve peace. At least, in her opinion, he doesn't, as repetence for the people who he made suffer. She applies the same logic to herself, because in the end, she will have to hurt the same way Alex and the others did when she left them. Some people can be forgiven -- take Heathcliff, for example, but what separates him and her and Sinclair is that Heathcliff has remorse and pity in his heart while she knows that she felt nothing of the sort when she ran. She felt selfish, and Sinclair felt joy tearing those people apart. Those who benefit off of others' ache are those who she despises the most, and it isn't easy to make her hate someone.

Then, she gets to thinking further as she waits for Kromer's response. If Sinclair survived, is it possible that Gregor...

The thought is immediately banished.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer pulls her wing from Yuri as she turns to face the other, "that's enough of us talking about

"No... I'm not. But that's okay." Kromer closes her eyes again, taking a deep breath before shifting. "I don't have to be okay with that information."

There's a moment of silence that falls over the room before Kromer sighs again.

"We don't need to have such a deep conversation though. Sorry things got so deep." Kromer gently pulls her wing from Yuri so she can turn her whole body towards the other. "Say, it's been a while since we've had this specific conversation. But do you want me to dye your hair?"

Kromer's horse ears are twitching, as if she's nervous Yuri would say no. There's something in Kromer's eyes that is almost begging to stay hidden in Yuri's room for longer.

[lcbyuri]

It surprises Yuri that Kromer remembered her request from eons ago. This is a good topic to move to because it is distracting, she thinks, and also girly. The type of thing girls who are friends do.

With her free hand, she lifts the front strands of her hair, giving it a good look and observing the familiar contrast of the color against her pale skin. "I mean, uhm, if it's not a bother... But do you think it would look good?" Again, she turns to Kromer for validation. "I mean, I'm basically associated with the color red, and, like, if I change my hair, what if people think it's weird? Do you think it's weird?"

A small part of her wants Kromer to say no just so that she can justify her desire farther. It's not like she's desperate to change the color, but she's tired of red and has quietly come to dislike the it and what it means. It's just a color, though, at the end of the day. She can put up with it, really.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No. It's not going to be 'weird'." Kromer has a small smile, possibly even seeming a little amused. She pulls out the bag she brought with to display a myriad of colors-- some aren't what they originally talked about.

"I've already weeded out anything that I don't think would go with your skin tone, don't worry." Kromer's voice is warm, "something to keep in mind is that people may be.... Surprised. They may stare. But that will happen with anyone who makes a drastic change to their style. It doesn't mean it looks bad or weird on you. It just takes a bit to get used to when you've known someone to have a specific appearance for an extended period of time."

Kromer's tail wags, it's much more relaxed than when she was worked up earlier.

"I wouldn't recommend anything that would look bad on you, okay? If I was so attached to your hair color that I wouldn't take into account your emotions on the matter-- I would be a bad friend. The big step for you is to choose what color you want. You don't have to stick with this color for the rest of your life, I'll always be here to change it if you decide you want to try something new, but... This is your decision." Kromer's voice is soft, kind in the way that she seems to realize this may be overwhelming to Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

Definitely, she's overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. She's overwhelmed with kindness, with Kromer's careful consideration and kind words. Has there ever been a time before now that people would go as far as remember her skin tone and choose colors to make her look good? It takes so much effort to do such a thing, but Kromer talks about it like it's not a big deal at all...

She bites her bottom lip, wills herself to stare at her options so Kromer doesn't see her eyes getting glassy. She's gotten good at hiding this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it'll always work. She knows the telltale signs that simply cannot be concealed, and also knows that Kromer is very observant.

"Aaah..." It's harder to focus, with so many emotions, so she stutters, "What- uhm, what do you think will look good?"

Kromer even said that they're friends, and that she'd want to change her hair again if Yuri asked. She wants to hang out as friends. They're friends.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer visibly softens at the emotions displayed by Yuri, but she takes a moment to look at all of the options she's brought with her today. Yet, the woman doesn't mention the tears. That would just be embarrassing.

Though, the woman does wordlessly drape a wing around Yuri like a warm blanket. Almost like a hug.

...Perhaps she has more control over her new appendages than she lets on.

"How about I give you a choice between two? So many can be quite overwhelming, fuhuhu~." Kromer digs in the bags and pulls out one that is labeled as... 'Raspberry Purple'? It seems like a burgundy, a bold change that is sure to make a statement. The next one Kromer pulls out is labeled as 'Light Auburn'. A safe choice with a mix of orange and brown.

"How brave are you feeling, Yuri?" Kromer has a mischievous smile on her face as she presents the two colors to the 13th Sinner. The horse tail starts to wag even faster, almost like a puppy at this point. It seems the woman is extremely excited to do this.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, uhhm..." She sniffles, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "I, uhm, I mean..."

Purple... She's not trying to be corny, but it's a shade of purple. Also, if she's already known for her unique red hair, she might as well double down and do something as abnormal. Maybe that will soften the blow, and people will be more used to it than if she chose something plain.

Just as an extra layer of reassurance on top of everything Kromer's already said and done, she asks, "Do you think the purple'll work? I guess I'm feeling pretty brave..."

Mindlessly, she rests a hand on the wing around her, stroking it gently. It helps ground her, and it's just something to do. Although it has been dampened by the slight emotional burst earlier, she swears she's just as excited to hang out with a friend -- she's sure if she had a tail like Kromer does right now, it'd be matching her pace or going even faster.

[shewhooncegripped]

"I think it would be fabulous, fuhuhu~." Kromer has an extremely warm smile as she reaches up a hand to run through Yuri's hair. "Your bow would still look super cute in it. I think I would like seeing that color on you. It isn't as attention grabbing as your bright red hair right now, but it's a color that still makes a statement. I think it will make you look mature while still being.... Well... You."

Kromer appears to be petting Yuri's head as she thinks about how she wants to do this. There's both a playful and a calculating look in her eyes.

"Do you want a moment to calm down a bit more or would you like to start right now?" Kromer shifts her attention to Yuri's face, seeming to want to prioritize Yuri's comfort. The feathers on her wing floofs up as if to make it both softer and warmer for Yuri.

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, we can start right now! Don't worry, I'm fine!" Her shoulders relax as Kromer pets her, proof of the truth of her words. As long as one person thinks it'll look good, she'll be okay -- and maybe Kromer would even defend it, if people said it looked bad... but that might be asking a lot for just a hair color. "Uhm, don't worry about getting my shirt dirty, I have a bunch more. And, uh, do you need anything, like gloves or..."

She's never actually seen anyone get their hair done before, but she's sure that gloves are part of it. And there's a lot of waiting, and a brush to apply the dye, and something like a toner, maybe? For the sake of not confusing Kromer, who definitely knows what she's doing, she says none of her limited knowledge, though. Anyway, the more thinking she does, the worse she feels, which is the exact opposite of what Kromer wants right now. All she has to do is sit and relax and be excited and trust Kromer, though the last one is a given. The easiest, too.

[shewhooncegripped]

"No need to worry about that, I've already got everything in my bag, it's been prepared for a long time.... Except for a shirt for me to wear, fuhuhu. I may have to run to my room to grab that. These clothes seem.... Quite fancy. It'd be a shame to make a mess. Would you rather we dye your hair in the kitchen or the bathroom?" Kromer slowly pulls away from her friend, grabbing the selected box and putting away the other.

Kromer stands up from the bed and stretches, every time she takes a step there is a noise sounding almost like horse hooves. It appears Kromer's shoes may be somewhat close to tap dancing shoes with how much noise they are making. When the woman is all stretched out she gives a happy noise and turns to Yuri with a grin. Her tail is wagging still.

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, I'm okay with anywhere! Ah, I'm just happy to finally get this done." And to spend time with someone, she thinks, also standing up. Kromer's tail can't lie, she's sure, so the fact that it's wagging so energetically means something good for her. It makes her smile back, less restrained than what she would give someone else. "We can stop by your room, first, to get a shirt, and then we can go wherever you think is best."

Now that they're actually following through, her own excitement is starting to peek through, overshadowing her anxious nature. Kromer's constant doting, if it could be called that, also helps blanket her thoughts, the validation from someone else making herself feel much more confident in the idea that this is a hangout between two friends who enjoy being around each other. She's close to certain of this idea -- it's a good feeling, to think that, because she had thought this entire time that the bus had grown tired and desired to distance themselves from her. At least it's not the entire bus now.

[shewhooncegripped]

Kromer holds the bag with one hand as she grabs Yuri's wrist with the other. She corrects her grip after a moment, instead linking her index finger with Yuri's playfully.

"My hands sweat pretty easily, so I don't wanna make things awkward for you by holding your hand... But I saw friends do something like this in a show I was watching with Sinclair. Tell me if you don't like it and I'll let go, okay?" Kromer starts to lead Yuri out of the room, a small smile on her face.

"I'm thinking about using the kitchen. That way you have a comfortable place to sit down while I work. Plus, easy access to snacks."

Kromer laughs to herself and lets go of Yuri's hand momentarily to enter her own room. The 11th Sinner exits very quickly wearing an oversized shirt and apron over her outfit.

Kromer reaches out her hand to hook fingers again before leading the way to the kitchen. Whenever there's a noise from a room, Kromer's horse ears rotate towards the source. But Kromer doesn't seem to be that skittish currently.

Actually, Kromer looks quite comfortable.

[lcbyuri]

Yuri would never want Kromer to let go. Human touch is a wonderful thing, and although she isn't deprived, the action holds deeper meaning. Touching someone, holding their hand, it all signifies trust.

"You've watched shows with Sinclair?" she asks as she sits down on a chair kicked over by Kromer, flattening the back of her pants and then tucking her hands under her thighs. Based on what she saw in Kromer's fathoms, she knows that her and Sinclair were childhood friends, but she always thought that both of them were too... eccentric for normal things, like watching shows. Or is this a more recent thing -- has Kromer met Sinclair without anyone knowing? Did he try to indoctrinate her back into the cult of Nagel und Hammer? Surely not, and if he did, she would have almost certainly said no. She's made it clear she's not participating in their practices anymore.

One hand comes out to run through her hair, taking out her ribbon and holding it loosely in its grip. There's a slight indent in her strands, a marker of where and how long the tie had been there. After a moment, she sits on her hand again, bouncing her leg.

[eternal-haunt]

The last time @lcbyuri ran away from danger, the guilt from the event strangled her and continues to do so today. Remnants of her past cling onto her, blind her judgement and hold her down so she can only watch as those around her fall like the building, like the bodies.

And... she's a coward, and she's terribly insecure, and she lets peoples' words affect her too much. She's afraid of doing the wrong thing, so much so that it handicaps her more often than not, leaving her missing out on so many things and so many people. Certainly, she's afraid now, as she hesitantly steps into the weakpoint of the backdoor and crosses into her second home, tasting the air tinged with sorrow and terror. She's afraid as her eyes adjust to the light and she sees the aftermath of a rampage, the guiding violet light turned into a warning. She's afraid as she comes close enough to become involved as opposed to being a bystander.

Last time, she ran away. Because of it, she lives encaged. But now...

She's unarmed, with only her words as her sword and shield, and she knows that will be enough.

"Heathcliff."

The ragged cocoon shifts and loosens. It had not changed at all. Upon hearing her voice, however, the violet gaze softens in intensity. Even as a distortion, he always had a trickle of humanity that he held dear. It turned to face her.

"Yuri...?" It softly murmurs.

Its body arches down to meet her level. Its voice had noticeably softened. It was more... quiet than before.

[lcbyuri]

It's a lot to take in at once. Compared to the previous distortion she witnessed, the mass of melted bodies, this one is more... personal. It's still as frightening, although she wouldn't say that back then she was as scared as she is now.

Her eye shifts to Gabriel, and for a moment, she almost considers turning back and letting them deal with it. After all, why insert herself into things she has nothing to really do with, like Yuzuki said?

...But Yuzuki also said that violence is the only way to teach people a lesson, and as seen in the massacre at her feet, bloodshed did nothing. Violence only creates discord and hurt, and hurt people hurt people. Whatever she did to Kromer, Yuri plays a part in the blame, for having allowed Yuzuki to invalidate the bonds of their bus.

She gives a nod of acknowledgement to the manager, a silent reassurance, before her attention goes on her world. Face-to-face, her heart begins to ease. Her hand is held out in offering. "Mhm, it's me. What happened?"

[eternal-haunt]

The spiked thorns upon its arm shrink in order to feel her hand. Its surface was rough, yet warm. A sign of life. A slight tear escapes one of the eyes as it gazes upon her.

"These chains..." It utters weakly. "I understand now... I cannot break them on my own..."

He understands. He still is unable to let go of the past. These chains are his past. Letting go of the past, breaking the chains, sets him free. Free to live.

She is the key.

[lcbyuri]

It's a non-answer answer, one that she won't push. Instead, she curls her fingers slightly to hold his hand, feeling Heathcliff.

"I know you're in there, Heath. It's okay, I'm here. What do you need?"

A light chuckle leaves her lips, a magical sound in this tense time.

"A kiss, like last time?"

Just as soon as it appeared, the lighthearted expression weakens, her gaze and smile falling to an echo of her positivity.

"I don't want to hurt you. I won't -- uhm. so, uhm, if you know how to fix this, I... I won't leave you. I won't leave anyone again, I want to help, I- I really do, so-

-so let me help you, Heathcliff. Like you've helped me, because I love you."

How corny, she thinks to herself, but it's honest.

[eternal-haunt]

"The past..." It utters once again. "I must be freed from the past. Freed from this everlasting punishment."

The distortion lowers its body even further to reach her. It presses its head against hers, closing its eyes. The violet light no longer brings danger but rather warmth towards the area.

"You are the key, Yuri." It continues. "The key to breaking these chains."

[lcbyuri]

"Very literal," she muses quietly, also closing her eye and feeling -- really feeling him. Her heart is now at its natural rhythm, if not a bit faster from their proximity. There's long, comfortable silence between them.

"I couldn't imagine ever being the reason someone is saved. Ah... it's a bit much, even if I've done it before, right?"

With him, she finds it easier to voice her thoughts, regardless of their content...

"I don't know, it's just different. I don't want you to rely on me and then for me to disappoint you. But we can, uhm, unpack that later, I-"

Her eye squeezes closed. Focus.

"Hah. It'll be okay. We'll be okay. I want to help you, even if I feel like I can't. Even if I'm way rusty, or not a perfect fit the first time, I'll at least try unlock it..."

Really, the only tried and proven method is to kiss him, so...

Her head tilts slightly, her breath ghosting over his "skin." There's a centimeter or two of space, a quiet asking of consent.

[eternal-haunt]

"Thank you." It softly whispers, as the jagged thorns retract even more. The eyes close one by one.

He knew that she would be the one to break the spell. She had done it before. Who's to say she wouldn't do it again?

Because even when the past binds him, he's still able to look forward towards the future.

He leans in, softly approaching her to approve of her consent.

The moment he opened his eyes again, he felt it. The restraints were loose. He gazes upon himself. His skin. His human skin. The blood may still be able to continue staining his hands, yet there is no point in dwelling on such stains anymore.

[lcbyuri]

Now, her heart is definitely beating a lot faster.

"Hey, handsome," she greets, her radiant smile back, if not a little hesitant. "Are you feeling okay? Hurt anywhere?"

Her hands ghost over his waist, treating him delicately as he recovers. He looks worn out, tired, yet she can sense the love in his gaze and the effort he puts in to stay standing despite the post-Distortion exhaustion. It was silly to be afraid for just that single moment, because he would never hurt her.

And she helped him. She came and helped him despite her anxieties, ending with her doing something right. Fuck, she literally saved him. She's done it time and time again, but this time, it really settles in. Pride fills her chest, and she smiles a little wider, cheeks full.

[eternal-haunt]

"I feel... relieved." He responds softly, dropping to his knees as a subtly smile rises onto his face. Tears roll down his eyes once more. Tears of sorrow? No. Tears of joy, they were.

He rises up, bringing himself into Yuri's arms as he gently hugs her.

"I couldn't thank you enough."

[lcbyuri]

She squeaks as she's hugged suddenly, going tense before relaxing and reciprocating the affection. "Don't thank me. I didn't do anything that needs to be thanked... And don't cry, because it'll make me cry..."

Her eyes close as she rests her head against his. "Take all the time you need to rest. I'm right here, and I won't go anywhere unless you want."

A soft sigh leaves her lips. Warm...

[eternal-haunt]

"It's alright." He comments as he wipes the tears from his face. "I'm merely happy to know that I have survived."

He lets out a soft, relieved chuckle as he feels her warmth against his.

His warmth.

The sign that he is alive. It had never left him.

The peace is interrupted slightly as Gabriel heads towards the two.

-<Hey, um... Sorry if I wasn't really able to help all that well. Glad to see you're okay, though.>- They announce. -<If you want any help in the future, just give me a call, alright? Sure, work may be making me lose my sleep schedule, but I'll still have time to check in every now and then. How's that sound?>-

He glances towards his manager. "I suppose it shall help along the way." He answers. "No matter how long it takes, I will make sure it is beneficial towards my path."

[lcbyuri]

She cracks open her eye to acknowledge the manager for a brief moment before going back to hugging, matching the tempo of her breathing with his and nuzzling his shoulder. When Gabriel's footsteps are no longer heard, she murmurs, "They're able to sleep?"

It's just a strange and sudden observation that it even makes her surprised, an irrelevant notice that barely has anything to do with the things that just happened. But in a way, it proves that things are alright again.

[eternal-haunt]

The manager lets out a slight laugh. Although, I was just silence and a slight head movement.

-<And I still don't know how I'm able to.>- They remark. -<Anyhow, I think it's best to give you two some alone time for now. Not to mention, we'll need to give Samsa a mercy kill so I can actually revert his injuries.>-

So, Gabriel bids the Erlking farewell, dragging an unconscious Samsa back to the bus with the other sinners following along. However, before she fully departs, Panza stops in her tracks, silently giving her co-worker a nod of affirmation before leaving to catch up with the rest.

[lcbyuri]

"Blegh. For some reason, the name of the other-Gregor leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Probably just his ties to N Corp, though."

She doesn't notice Panza's nod, nor the other Sinners leaving, focusing solely on Heathcliff. When they're all gone, she peeks her head out, only her eye visible from his sight. "What do you want to do? We have... a lot of time. Gabriel said so, anyway. I'm fine with anything."

She'd go as far as to say she's content just standing here until they get too cold and have to go inside, but that's an idealistic worldview. Although she could probably last a while, she's gotten used to warm blankets and layers, so she chuckles to herself.

[eternal-haunt]

He chuckles slightly over Yuri's remark regarding Samsa. "Yes, he is quite the handful." He comments.

"I suppose we could rest here for a while." He then adds. "After all, I have gotten rather exhausted after all of that. And we might as well catch up with one another. I suppose you and your other co-workers have gotten rather busy from time to time."

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, yeah, busy..."

Busy isn't the word to describe her in comparison to the rest of the bus. She has no clue what they've been up to, but Yuri herself has been hiding in her room for the past 2 or so weeks and has barely gone outside. Today is probably the longest time she's seen the sky in days, which is... concerning, and the reason she nods along.

"Come on, let's go find somewhere to sit. and you can tell me all about what you've been doing. Ah, I haven't been up to anything special--" a severe overstatement, because she wasn't doing anything, "--so I'll let you go first."

[eternal-haunt]

Softly nodding, he leads Yuri towards the living room, resting her near the fireplace as he sits alongside her.

"Hm... Well, I suppose I could be able to start with the Walpurgis Night we faced a couple of weeks ago." He began. "I suppose if was quite the bit of fresh air that we were facing an abnormality instead of an ordeal. Although, I did receive a new identity out of it, though. I believe it is one of my strongest yet."

As he trails along with his tangent, a spark of passion rises within his eyes. A clear sign of vibrant life. For him, it felt relieving to witness that life be regained, but he knew it was there all along. It was just lost within the smoke-ridden sea.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along, taking a part of her hair to braid so she can stay focused and busy at the same time. She'll form a plait, then undo it, then make it again, all while listening to him go on about the perceived strength of the Sword Sharpened with Tears. Honestly, she usually lets someone like Jane or Kromer handle the battle logistics, so she doesn't really understand what he's saying, but she tries her best. In all, it sounds very strong and cool, and she expresses this to him when he takes a pause.

The light in his eyes makes it even easier to listen, as she knows he's back to his normal self. He has something to be excited about, something that is his that he is allowing her to hear. It's not really a secret, Sinner IDs are well-known amongst the bus group, but the way he tells her makes it feel like one. All she can feel is excited for him, that he is even stronger, as well as pride.

[eternal-haunt]

"...All in all, I suppose handling such strength is a sign of progress. Being able to clear the battlefield quicker than before." He concludes, letting out a sigh as he regains his breath. Gazing upon Yuri fiddling with her hair, his eyes widen slightly like a curious cat. "I suppose I got rather off-track there."

[lcbyuri]

"Hm? No, nonono, it was interesting, I promise! Sorry, I just needed something to do. I promise I was listening," she reassures, her eye wide. "That's good that you can spend less time fighting. I worry a lot, you know, and I hate seeing you hurt. Ah, when they told me you Distorted..."

Actually, when they told her he Distorted, her first thought was that it was too early in the morning for this. Then it was concern, overwhelming amounts, with anxiety layered on top, leaving her paralyzed. But he doesn't need to know about that, so she lets him fill in the blank.

Her embarrassment wears off, and she notes his look. Cute. Letting go of her braid, the hair coming undone at the bottom, she supports herself as she leans back. "Anything else special happen to you?"

[eternal-haunt]

He quickly reverts to pondering until another recollection clicks within his mind.

"Ah, I do recall another event that occurred recently." He announces. "I came in contact with a person who was the child of another variant of mine. It makes me think of how interesting discovering worlds you have not previously known of can be."

He lets out a soft and gentle laugh.

"The child of that variant was with Catherine, though. The one who got erased." He adds. A vague hint of sorrow within. "They remember her, but do not know what happened to her. As if she merely went missing."

Noticing the reminiscence, he quickly stops.

"Perhaps we should move on to a lighter topic than recalling an erased person. Not after... well... I believe you already know."

[lcbyuri]

"Catherine..." she echoes, tone thoughtful. "Ah, is this like the Cathy name you made me remember? I wrote it down on my PDA so I wouldn't forget."

Upon his suggestion (personal request, really), she hums. "Well, I bet they're a cute kid and you're a good dad to them. I bet you spoil them rotten.

I wonder if I want children... ah, it's too early to say, isn't it? I heard they're devils, anyway. I can barely take care of myself, haha!"

Her eye flits to him. "Do you want kids?"

How is this what they're talking about?

[eternal-haunt]

"Yes, that Catherine. I'm glad you still remember." He utters. Even if it's only her name she remembers, it's enough. No more, no less.

On the new topic, however...

"Well, I'm unsure as of now. I already have several abnormalities to take care of here, after all. In a way, they are children all on their own, are they not?"

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, right! And there's all the birds, too... You have your hands full completely. Don't let the manor turn into too much of a zoo," she playfully comments, smiling. "Where do you fit in time for me if you're taking care of them?"

A pause.

"Wait. Abnormalities?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Yes, I may have also received a Dream-Devouring Siltcurrent." He adds. "The Heathcliff of Lobotomy Corporation aided in creating its enclosure. It's gotten rather tame ever since. As much as I might be able to obtain more through messenger gifts, I'm unsure as to whether or not this manor might become more of a labyrinth than a zoo."

[lcbyuri]

Her mouth drops, staring incredulously at him. "Huh? A- A what? Huh? In the manor? Where you sleep? Are you crazy?" Yes.

Struggling to form a kind and appropriate response, she flounders some more before deciding to just let him live. He's had it thusfar and been fine, so surely he doesn't need her nagging about how dangerous that is and whatnot. Heathcliff can handle himself just fine, with or without an Abnormality in the building.

"Maybe just... don't. Uhm, accept any, uh, anymore? For the time being," is the only advice she can give, looking behind her as if the Siltcurrent will just appear. "How are you calm about this? What- What else do you have, besides the birds?"

[eternal-haunt]

Yes. Yes, he was crazy, but in a good sort of way. He couldn't deny it any longer with what he had said.

Giving a nod of affirmation, he continues. "Another messenger may have also gifted me a small pack of wolves. Although, they enjoy the outside more than the inside. Even then, that does not stop some of them from wandering inside to greet me. Despite their quietness, they are fond of anyone who are acquaintances with me."

[lcbyuri]

"...Wolves," she echoes breathlessly, shock imbued in the single word. "Huh."

He really turned his manor into some kind of animal and abnormality adoption center. Of course he did. She'll never understand rich people, although he isn't really rich himself, per se. Plus, she has all the birds, so... There's something hypocritical in there, about her judging (?) him.

"Well, uhm, as long as it makes you happy!" she says with a slightly too cheery voice, hazarding a glance at his lips and then his chest. Damn. "Does Miss Nelly help you take care of them, or something? And Lob Corp Heathcliff, him too?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Of course." He continues. "I suppose it has begun to be a part of our routine now."

He wonders about what else he could talk about, and something else clicks in his mind.

"Although, wrapping around back to the original topic, I remember something else that had occurred on the bus not so long ago." He begins. "A few messengers were meddling with powers beyond their control and trapped Samsa in a strange space between worlds for a couple of days. We were able to get him out, though."

[lcbyuri]

"Mhm, that's a shame..." She's zoned out staring at him, evident in how she trails off and her blank expression. After a moment, though, she comes back to herself, blinking a couple times and looking clueless. "Oh, uh, you- uhh, well, he looked fine earlier, you know, besides being knocked out! So you did a good job getting him out! Ohh, it's- The anons, they have way too much power. Do you not have regulations on what you can accept or have done to you? For us, Gretchen -- uh, that's the 2nd Sinner, she allows us to decline any anons that would pose an immediate threat to us or the bus. Of course, that doesn't mean that we can just decline everything, like, uh, spontaneous combusion, because that's out of our control, but things like people, Color Fixers, even..."

[eternal-haunt]

"I suppose they were merely experimenting, though, as they were trying to gift him a golden bough." He carries on. "Somehow, in some way, the golden bough corrupted, morphing into something with similar properties to a black hole. Then, the messengers thought it would be a fun idea to multiply the corrupt bough until it collapsed in on itself and tore a hole through reality itself, creating a gateway into that void. Luckily, the boughs we had previously collected were enough to seal it before it could worsen."

[lcbyuri]

"I-I'm sorry?" She's back to making eye contact. "It did- What?"

The more she hears about Heathcliff's bus, the more thankful she is that she is on her own. Sure, it can be brutal sometimes, like with coworker conflicts and Distortions, but those have seemingly died down, and weren't anywhere on the scale of a whole black hole. And sure, she still doesn't like Samsa for some reason, but even she can admit that trapping him in something like that is overly cruel.

"Is- Uh, did he come out of it, like, fine? Doesn't time warp in black holes? How long was he in there for? Were you okay during it? See, this is why you need someone who can regulate what you're given through anons, you know... Imagine if that was you. Do you know how worried I'd be? Why would he even accept it? Does he not have void tickets like the rest of us?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Gabriel and Faust have begun to research into how such a possibility could occur, as well as potentially researching into the void itself." He explains. "They do plan on interviewing Samsa soon in order to gather information on his experience. For now, it remains a mystery to us. And it is less than certain that he has void tickets. Although, I usually categorise the gifts and spells received in order of either preference or convenience to the current situation."

[lcbyuri]

"Then someone needs to give him some," she concludes, raising a finger to point at him. Her nails have been bitten down. "I'm not saying you should, you don't owe him anything, but it's the safety of the bus. Or just give some to Gabriel and then have them give the tickets to Samsa, but don't mention who they were originally from. Something nice like that, you know?"

Her body shifts so she can rest her head on his lap, turned towards the fire.

"How are the Head not after you? I mean, a whole black hole... no, even before that, a bough just manifested out of nowhere... The Head was after me for a little bit just because I was alive, you know. So there's no way they're letting something like that go. I guess you guys just keep secrets really well, huh?"

[eternal-haunt]

"The Backdoor holds many secrets." He comments, resting his hand upon Yuri's shoulder. "I suppose I am quite surprised as well. Although I am unsure if the head had ever dealt with literal tears through the fabric of reality. Either way, it is certain that we must make sure that it does not happen again. Even if it is for mere 'research purposes'."

[lcbyuri]

"Mhm," she hums, putting her hand on top of his. "I'm sure it won't. I don't know who Faust is, but I'm sure Gabriel and them will be able to find something useful and then create a sort of preventative measure. Maybe even better than void tickets, with a better chance of succeeding."

Her fingers idly run over the back of his palm, tracing meaningless, mindless shapes. They fall into comforting silence, only the crackle of the fire filling the air.

Silence has been her friend for a while, and she had become intimately familiar with it when she locked herself up in her room. It's been a constant her whole life, even from when she used to work in L Corp and had to hide when Abnormalities breached containment. Her hand pressed to her mouth, darkness all around her. Usually, silence indicates some kind of danger or threat to conceal herself from, but here, it takes a better meaning. Instead of being like cotton stuffed in her ears and down her mouth, muting her to the world around her, it becomes a means of focus. A way to look up at Heathcliff's face and admire his scars, his eyes, him. It feels very normal, being here, and the world doesn't feel out to get them for once.

"Handsome," she murmurs.

[eternal-haunt]

The last time @lcbyuri ran away from danger, the guilt from the event strangled her and continues to do so today. Remnants of her past cling onto her, blind her judgement and hold her down so she can only watch as those around her fall like the building, like the bodies.

And... she's a coward, and she's terribly insecure, and she lets peoples' words affect her too much. She's afraid of doing the wrong thing, so much so that it handicaps her more often than not, leaving her missing out on so many things and so many people. Certainly, she's afraid now, as she hesitantly steps into the weakpoint of the backdoor and crosses into her second home, tasting the air tinged with sorrow and terror. She's afraid as her eyes adjust to the light and she sees the aftermath of a rampage, the guiding violet light turned into a warning. She's afraid as she comes close enough to become involved as opposed to being a bystander.

Last time, she ran away. Because of it, she lives encaged. But now...

She's unarmed, with only her words as her sword and shield, and she knows that will be enough.

"Heathcliff."

The ragged cocoon shifts and loosens. It had not changed at all. Upon hearing her voice, however, the violet gaze softens in intensity. Even as a distortion, he always had a trickle of humanity that he held dear. It turned to face her.

"Yuri...?" It softly murmurs.

Its body arches down to meet her level. Its voice had noticeably softened. It was more... quiet than before.

[lcbyuri]

It's a lot to take in at once. Compared to the previous distortion she witnessed, the mass of melted bodies, this one is more... personal. It's still as frightening, although she wouldn't say that back then she was as scared as she is now.

Her eye shifts to Gabriel, and for a moment, she almost considers turning back and letting them deal with it. After all, why insert herself into things she has nothing to really do with, like Yuzuki said?

...But Yuzuki also said that violence is the only way to teach people a lesson, and as seen in the massacre at her feet, bloodshed did nothing. Violence only creates discord and hurt, and hurt people hurt people. Whatever she did to Kromer, Yuri plays a part in the blame, for having allowed Yuzuki to invalidate the bonds of their bus.

She gives a nod of acknowledgement to the manager, a silent reassurance, before her attention goes on her world. Face-to-face, her heart begins to ease. Her hand is held out in offering. "Mhm, it's me. What happened?"

[eternal-haunt]

The spiked thorns upon its arm shrink in order to feel her hand. Its surface was rough, yet warm. A sign of life. A slight tear escapes one of the eyes as it gazes upon her.

"These chains..." It utters weakly. "I understand now... I cannot break them on my own..."

He understands. He still is unable to let go of the past. These chains are his past. Letting go of the past, breaking the chains, sets him free. Free to live.

She is the key.

[lcbyuri]

It's a non-answer answer, one that she won't push. Instead, she curls her fingers slightly to hold his hand, feeling Heathcliff.

"I know you're in there, Heath. It's okay, I'm here. What do you need?"

A light chuckle leaves her lips, a magical sound in this tense time.

"A kiss, like last time?"

Just as soon as it appeared, the lighthearted expression weakens, her gaze and smile falling to an echo of her positivity.

"I don't want to hurt you. I won't -- uhm. so, uhm, if you know how to fix this, I... I won't leave you. I won't leave anyone again, I want to help, I- I really do, so-

-so let me help you, Heathcliff. Like you've helped me, because I love you."

How corny, she thinks to herself, but it's honest.

[eternal-haunt]

"The past..." It utters once again. "I must be freed from the past. Freed from this everlasting punishment."

The distortion lowers its body even further to reach her. It presses its head against hers, closing its eyes. The violet light no longer brings danger but rather warmth towards the area.

"You are the key, Yuri." It continues. "The key to breaking these chains."

[lcbyuri]

"Very literal," she muses quietly, also closing her eye and feeling -- really feeling him. Her heart is now at its natural rhythm, if not a bit faster from their proximity. There's long, comfortable silence between them.

"I couldn't imagine ever being the reason someone is saved. Ah... it's a bit much, even if I've done it before, right?"

With him, she finds it easier to voice her thoughts, regardless of their content...

"I don't know, it's just different. I don't want you to rely on me and then for me to disappoint you. But we can, uhm, unpack that later, I-"

Her eye squeezes closed. Focus.

"Hah. It'll be okay. We'll be okay. I want to help you, even if I feel like I can't. Even if I'm way rusty, or not a perfect fit the first time, I'll at least try unlock it..."

Really, the only tried and proven method is to kiss him, so...

Her head tilts slightly, her breath ghosting over his "skin." There's a centimeter or two of space, a quiet asking of consent.

[eternal-haunt]

"Thank you." It softly whispers, as the jagged thorns retract even more. The eyes close one by one.

He knew that she would be the one to break the spell. She had done it before. Who's to say she wouldn't do it again?

Because even when the past binds him, he's still able to look forward towards the future.

He leans in, softly approaching her to approve of her consent.

The moment he opened his eyes again, he felt it. The restraints were loose. He gazes upon himself. His skin. His human skin. The blood may still be able to continue staining his hands, yet there is no point in dwelling on such stains anymore.

[lcbyuri]

Now, her heart is definitely beating a lot faster.

"Hey, handsome," she greets, her radiant smile back, if not a little hesitant. "Are you feeling okay? Hurt anywhere?"

Her hands ghost over his waist, treating him delicately as he recovers. He looks worn out, tired, yet she can sense the love in his gaze and the effort he puts in to stay standing despite the post-Distortion exhaustion. It was silly to be afraid for just that single moment, because he would never hurt her.

And she helped him. She came and helped him despite her anxieties, ending with her doing something right. Fuck, she literally saved him. She's done it time and time again, but this time, it really settles in. Pride fills her chest, and she smiles a little wider, cheeks full.

[eternal-haunt]

"I feel... relieved." He responds softly, dropping to his knees as a subtly smile rises onto his face. Tears roll down his eyes once more. Tears of sorrow? No. Tears of joy, they were.

He rises up, bringing himself into Yuri's arms as he gently hugs her.

"I couldn't thank you enough."

[lcbyuri]

She squeaks as she's hugged suddenly, going tense before relaxing and reciprocating the affection. "Don't thank me. I didn't do anything that needs to be thanked... And don't cry, because it'll make me cry..."

Her eyes close as she rests her head against his. "Take all the time you need to rest. I'm right here, and I won't go anywhere unless you want."

A soft sigh leaves her lips. Warm...

[eternal-haunt]

"It's alright." He comments as he wipes the tears from his face. "I'm merely happy to know that I have survived."

He lets out a soft, relieved chuckle as he feels her warmth against his.

His warmth.

The sign that he is alive. It had never left him.

The peace is interrupted slightly as Gabriel heads towards the two.

-<Hey, um... Sorry if I wasn't really able to help all that well. Glad to see you're okay, though.>- They announce. -<If you want any help in the future, just give me a call, alright? Sure, work may be making me lose my sleep schedule, but I'll still have time to check in every now and then. How's that sound?>-

He glances towards his manager. "I suppose it shall help along the way." He answers. "No matter how long it takes, I will make sure it is beneficial towards my path."

[lcbyuri]

She cracks open her eye to acknowledge the manager for a brief moment before going back to hugging, matching the tempo of her breathing with his and nuzzling his shoulder. When Gabriel's footsteps are no longer heard, she murmurs, "They're able to sleep?"

It's just a strange and sudden observation that it even makes her surprised, an irrelevant notice that barely has anything to do with the things that just happened. But in a way, it proves that things are alright again.

[eternal-haunt]

The manager lets out a slight laugh. Although, I was just silence and a slight head movement.

-<And I still don't know how I'm able to.>- They remark. -<Anyhow, I think it's best to give you two some alone time for now. Not to mention, we'll need to give Samsa a mercy kill so I can actually revert his injuries.>-

So, Gabriel bids the Erlking farewell, dragging an unconscious Samsa back to the bus with the other sinners following along. However, before she fully departs, Panza stops in her tracks, silently giving her co-worker a nod of affirmation before leaving to catch up with the rest.

[lcbyuri]

"Blegh. For some reason, the name of the other-Gregor leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Probably just his ties to N Corp, though."

She doesn't notice Panza's nod, nor the other Sinners leaving, focusing solely on Heathcliff. When they're all gone, she peeks her head out, only her eye visible from his sight. "What do you want to do? We have... a lot of time. Gabriel said so, anyway. I'm fine with anything."

She'd go as far as to say she's content just standing here until they get too cold and have to go inside, but that's an idealistic worldview. Although she could probably last a while, she's gotten used to warm blankets and layers, so she chuckles to herself.

[eternal-haunt]

He chuckles slightly over Yuri's remark regarding Samsa. "Yes, he is quite the handful." He comments.

"I suppose we could rest here for a while." He then adds. "After all, I have gotten rather exhausted after all of that. And we might as well catch up with one another. I suppose you and your other co-workers have gotten rather busy from time to time."

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, yeah, busy..."

Busy isn't the word to describe her in comparison to the rest of the bus. She has no clue what they've been up to, but Yuri herself has been hiding in her room for the past 2 or so weeks and has barely gone outside. Today is probably the longest time she's seen the sky in days, which is... concerning, and the reason she nods along.

"Come on, let's go find somewhere to sit. and you can tell me all about what you've been doing. Ah, I haven't been up to anything special--" a severe overstatement, because she wasn't doing anything, "--so I'll let you go first."

[eternal-haunt]

Softly nodding, he leads Yuri towards the living room, resting her near the fireplace as he sits alongside her.

"Hm... Well, I suppose I could be able to start with the Walpurgis Night we faced a couple of weeks ago." He began. "I suppose if was quite the bit of fresh air that we were facing an abnormality instead of an ordeal. Although, I did receive a new identity out of it, though. I believe it is one of my strongest yet."

As he trails along with his tangent, a spark of passion rises within his eyes. A clear sign of vibrant life. For him, it felt relieving to witness that life be regained, but he knew it was there all along. It was just lost within the smoke-ridden sea.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along, taking a part of her hair to braid so she can stay focused and busy at the same time. She'll form a plait, then undo it, then make it again, all while listening to him go on about the perceived strength of the Sword Sharpened with Tears. Honestly, she usually lets someone like Jane or Kromer handle the battle logistics, so she doesn't really understand what he's saying, but she tries her best. In all, it sounds very strong and cool, and she expresses this to him when he takes a pause.

The light in his eyes makes it even easier to listen, as she knows he's back to his normal self. He has something to be excited about, something that is his that he is allowing her to hear. It's not really a secret, Sinner IDs are well-known amongst the bus group, but the way he tells her makes it feel like one. All she can feel is excited for him, that he is even stronger, as well as pride.

[eternal-haunt]

"...All in all, I suppose handling such strength is a sign of progress. Being able to clear the battlefield quicker than before." He concludes, letting out a sigh as he regains his breath. Gazing upon Yuri fiddling with her hair, his eyes widen slightly like a curious cat. "I suppose I got rather off-track there."

[lcbyuri]

"Hm? No, nonono, it was interesting, I promise! Sorry, I just needed something to do. I promise I was listening," she reassures, her eye wide. "That's good that you can spend less time fighting. I worry a lot, you know, and I hate seeing you hurt. Ah, when they told me you Distorted..."

Actually, when they told her he Distorted, her first thought was that it was too early in the morning for this. Then it was concern, overwhelming amounts, with anxiety layered on top, leaving her paralyzed. But he doesn't need to know about that, so she lets him fill in the blank.

Her embarrassment wears off, and she notes his look. Cute. Letting go of her braid, the hair coming undone at the bottom, she supports herself as she leans back. "Anything else special happen to you?"

[eternal-haunt]

He quickly reverts to pondering until another recollection clicks within his mind.

"Ah, I do recall another event that occurred recently." He announces. "I came in contact with a person who was the child of another variant of mine. It makes me think of how interesting discovering worlds you have not previously known of can be."

He lets out a soft and gentle laugh.

"The child of that variant was with Catherine, though. The one who got erased." He adds. A vague hint of sorrow within. "They remember her, but do not know what happened to her. As if she merely went missing."

Noticing the reminiscence, he quickly stops.

"Perhaps we should move on to a lighter topic than recalling an erased person. Not after... well... I believe you already know."

[lcbyuri]

"Catherine..." she echoes, tone thoughtful. "Ah, is this like the Cathy name you made me remember? I wrote it down on my PDA so I wouldn't forget."

Upon his suggestion (personal request, really), she hums. "Well, I bet they're a cute kid and you're a good dad to them. I bet you spoil them rotten.

I wonder if I want children... ah, it's too early to say, isn't it? I heard they're devils, anyway. I can barely take care of myself, haha!"

Her eye flits to him. "Do you want kids?"

How is this what they're talking about?

[eternal-haunt]

"Yes, that Catherine. I'm glad you still remember." He utters. Even if it's only her name she remembers, it's enough. No more, no less.

On the new topic, however...

"Well, I'm unsure as of now. I already have several abnormalities to take care of here, after all. In a way, they are children all on their own, are they not?"

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, right! And there's all the birds, too... You have your hands full completely. Don't let the manor turn into too much of a zoo," she playfully comments, smiling. "Where do you fit in time for me if you're taking care of them?"

A pause.

"Wait. Abnormalities?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Yes, I may have also received a Dream-Devouring Siltcurrent." He adds. "The Heathcliff of Lobotomy Corporation aided in creating its enclosure. It's gotten rather tame ever since. As much as I might be able to obtain more through messenger gifts, I'm unsure as to whether or not this manor might become more of a labyrinth than a zoo."

[lcbyuri]

Her mouth drops, staring incredulously at him. "Huh? A- A what? Huh? In the manor? Where you sleep? Are you crazy?" Yes.

Struggling to form a kind and appropriate response, she flounders some more before deciding to just let him live. He's had it thusfar and been fine, so surely he doesn't need her nagging about how dangerous that is and whatnot. Heathcliff can handle himself just fine, with or without an Abnormality in the building.

"Maybe just... don't. Uhm, accept any, uh, anymore? For the time being," is the only advice she can give, looking behind her as if the Siltcurrent will just appear. "How are you calm about this? What- What else do you have, besides the birds?"

[eternal-haunt]

Yes. Yes, he was crazy, but in a good sort of way. He couldn't deny it any longer with what he had said.

Giving a nod of affirmation, he continues. "Another messenger may have also gifted me a small pack of wolves. Although, they enjoy the outside more than the inside. Even then, that does not stop some of them from wandering inside to greet me. Despite their quietness, they are fond of anyone who are acquaintances with me."

[lcbyuri]

"...Wolves," she echoes breathlessly, shock imbued in the single word. "Huh."

He really turned his manor into some kind of animal and abnormality adoption center. Of course he did. She'll never understand rich people, although he isn't really rich himself, per se. Plus, she has all the birds, so... There's something hypocritical in there, about her judging (?) him.

"Well, uhm, as long as it makes you happy!" she says with a slightly too cheery voice, hazarding a glance at his lips and then his chest. Damn. "Does Miss Nelly help you take care of them, or something? And Lob Corp Heathcliff, him too?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Of course." He continues. "I suppose it has begun to be a part of our routine now."

He wonders about what else he could talk about, and something else clicks in his mind.

"Although, wrapping around back to the original topic, I remember something else that had occurred on the bus not so long ago." He begins. "A few messengers were meddling with powers beyond their control and trapped Samsa in a strange space between worlds for a couple of days. We were able to get him out, though."

[lcbyuri]

"Mhm, that's a shame..." She's zoned out staring at him, evident in how she trails off and her blank expression. After a moment, though, she comes back to herself, blinking a couple times and looking clueless. "Oh, uh, you- uhh, well, he looked fine earlier, you know, besides being knocked out! So you did a good job getting him out! Ohh, it's- The anons, they have way too much power. Do you not have regulations on what you can accept or have done to you? For us, Gretchen -- uh, that's the 2nd Sinner, she allows us to decline any anons that would pose an immediate threat to us or the bus. Of course, that doesn't mean that we can just decline everything, like, uh, spontaneous combusion, because that's out of our control, but things like people, Color Fixers, even..."

[eternal-haunt]

"I suppose they were merely experimenting, though, as they were trying to gift him a golden bough." He carries on. "Somehow, in some way, the golden bough corrupted, morphing into something with similar properties to a black hole. Then, the messengers thought it would be a fun idea to multiply the corrupt bough until it collapsed in on itself and tore a hole through reality itself, creating a gateway into that void. Luckily, the boughs we had previously collected were enough to seal it before it could worsen."

[lcbyuri]

"I-I'm sorry?" She's back to making eye contact. "It did- What?"

The more she hears about Heathcliff's bus, the more thankful she is that she is on her own. Sure, it can be brutal sometimes, like with coworker conflicts and Distortions, but those have seemingly died down, and weren't anywhere on the scale of a whole black hole. And sure, she still doesn't like Samsa for some reason, but even she can admit that trapping him in something like that is overly cruel.

"Is- Uh, did he come out of it, like, fine? Doesn't time warp in black holes? How long was he in there for? Were you okay during it? See, this is why you need someone who can regulate what you're given through anons, you know... Imagine if that was you. Do you know how worried I'd be? Why would he even accept it? Does he not have void tickets like the rest of us?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Gabriel and Faust have begun to research into how such a possibility could occur, as well as potentially researching into the void itself." He explains. "They do plan on interviewing Samsa soon in order to gather information on his experience. For now, it remains a mystery to us. And it is less than certain that he has void tickets. Although, I usually categorise the gifts and spells received in order of either preference or convenience to the current situation."

[lcbyuri]

"Then someone needs to give him some," she concludes, raising a finger to point at him. Her nails have been bitten down. "I'm not saying you should, you don't owe him anything, but it's the safety of the bus. Or just give some to Gabriel and then have them give the tickets to Samsa, but don't mention who they were originally from. Something nice like that, you know?"

Her body shifts so she can rest her head on his lap, turned towards the fire.

"How are the Head not after you? I mean, a whole black hole... no, even before that, a bough just manifested out of nowhere... The Head was after me for a little bit just because I was alive, you know. So there's no way they're letting something like that go. I guess you guys just keep secrets really well, huh?"

[eternal-haunt]

The last time @lcbyuri ran away from danger, the guilt from the event strangled her and continues to do so today. Remnants of her past cling onto her, blind her judgement and hold her down so she can only watch as those around her fall like the building, like the bodies.

And... she's a coward, and she's terribly insecure, and she lets peoples' words affect her too much. She's afraid of doing the wrong thing, so much so that it handicaps her more often than not, leaving her missing out on so many things and so many people. Certainly, she's afraid now, as she hesitantly steps into the weakpoint of the backdoor and crosses into her second home, tasting the air tinged with sorrow and terror. She's afraid as her eyes adjust to the light and she sees the aftermath of a rampage, the guiding violet light turned into a warning. She's afraid as she comes close enough to become involved as opposed to being a bystander.

Last time, she ran away. Because of it, she lives encaged. But now...

She's unarmed, with only her words as her sword and shield, and she knows that will be enough.

"Heathcliff."

The ragged cocoon shifts and loosens. It had not changed at all. Upon hearing her voice, however, the violet gaze softens in intensity. Even as a distortion, he always had a trickle of humanity that he held dear. It turned to face her.

"Yuri...?" It softly murmurs.

Its body arches down to meet her level. Its voice had noticeably softened. It was more... quiet than before.

[lcbyuri]

It's a lot to take in at once. Compared to the previous distortion she witnessed, the mass of melted bodies, this one is more... personal. It's still as frightening, although she wouldn't say that back then she was as scared as she is now.

Her eye shifts to Gabriel, and for a moment, she almost considers turning back and letting them deal with it. After all, why insert herself into things she has nothing to really do with, like Yuzuki said?

...But Yuzuki also said that violence is the only way to teach people a lesson, and as seen in the massacre at her feet, bloodshed did nothing. Violence only creates discord and hurt, and hurt people hurt people. Whatever she did to Kromer, Yuri plays a part in the blame, for having allowed Yuzuki to invalidate the bonds of their bus.

She gives a nod of acknowledgement to the manager, a silent reassurance, before her attention goes on her world. Face-to-face, her heart begins to ease. Her hand is held out in offering. "Mhm, it's me. What happened?"

[eternal-haunt]

The spiked thorns upon its arm shrink in order to feel her hand. Its surface was rough, yet warm. A sign of life. A slight tear escapes one of the eyes as it gazes upon her.

"These chains..." It utters weakly. "I understand now... I cannot break them on my own..."

He understands. He still is unable to let go of the past. These chains are his past. Letting go of the past, breaking the chains, sets him free. Free to live.

She is the key.

[lcbyuri]

It's a non-answer answer, one that she won't push. Instead, she curls her fingers slightly to hold his hand, feeling Heathcliff.

"I know you're in there, Heath. It's okay, I'm here. What do you need?"

A light chuckle leaves her lips, a magical sound in this tense time.

"A kiss, like last time?"

Just as soon as it appeared, the lighthearted expression weakens, her gaze and smile falling to an echo of her positivity.

"I don't want to hurt you. I won't -- uhm. so, uhm, if you know how to fix this, I... I won't leave you. I won't leave anyone again, I want to help, I- I really do, so-

-so let me help you, Heathcliff. Like you've helped me, because I love you."

How corny, she thinks to herself, but it's honest.

[eternal-haunt]

"The past..." It utters once again. "I must be freed from the past. Freed from this everlasting punishment."

The distortion lowers its body even further to reach her. It presses its head against hers, closing its eyes. The violet light no longer brings danger but rather warmth towards the area.

"You are the key, Yuri." It continues. "The key to breaking these chains."

[lcbyuri]

"Very literal," she muses quietly, also closing her eye and feeling -- really feeling him. Her heart is now at its natural rhythm, if not a bit faster from their proximity. There's long, comfortable silence between them.

"I couldn't imagine ever being the reason someone is saved. Ah... it's a bit much, even if I've done it before, right?"

With him, she finds it easier to voice her thoughts, regardless of their content...

"I don't know, it's just different. I don't want you to rely on me and then for me to disappoint you. But we can, uhm, unpack that later, I-"

Her eye squeezes closed. Focus.

"Hah. It'll be okay. We'll be okay. I want to help you, even if I feel like I can't. Even if I'm way rusty, or not a perfect fit the first time, I'll at least try unlock it..."

Really, the only tried and proven method is to kiss him, so...

Her head tilts slightly, her breath ghosting over his "skin." There's a centimeter or two of space, a quiet asking of consent.

[eternal-haunt]

"Thank you." It softly whispers, as the jagged thorns retract even more. The eyes close one by one.

He knew that she would be the one to break the spell. She had done it before. Who's to say she wouldn't do it again?

Because even when the past binds him, he's still able to look forward towards the future.

He leans in, softly approaching her to approve of her consent.

The moment he opened his eyes again, he felt it. The restraints were loose. He gazes upon himself. His skin. His human skin. The blood may still be able to continue staining his hands, yet there is no point in dwelling on such stains anymore.

[lcbyuri]

Now, her heart is definitely beating a lot faster.

"Hey, handsome," she greets, her radiant smile back, if not a little hesitant. "Are you feeling okay? Hurt anywhere?"

Her hands ghost over his waist, treating him delicately as he recovers. He looks worn out, tired, yet she can sense the love in his gaze and the effort he puts in to stay standing despite the post-Distortion exhaustion. It was silly to be afraid for just that single moment, because he would never hurt her.

And she helped him. She came and helped him despite her anxieties, ending with her doing something right. Fuck, she literally saved him. She's done it time and time again, but this time, it really settles in. Pride fills her chest, and she smiles a little wider, cheeks full.

[eternal-haunt]

"I feel... relieved." He responds softly, dropping to his knees as a subtly smile rises onto his face. Tears roll down his eyes once more. Tears of sorrow? No. Tears of joy, they were.

He rises up, bringing himself into Yuri's arms as he gently hugs her.

"I couldn't thank you enough."

[lcbyuri]

She squeaks as she's hugged suddenly, going tense before relaxing and reciprocating the affection. "Don't thank me. I didn't do anything that needs to be thanked... And don't cry, because it'll make me cry..."

Her eyes close as she rests her head against his. "Take all the time you need to rest. I'm right here, and I won't go anywhere unless you want."

A soft sigh leaves her lips. Warm...

[eternal-haunt]

"It's alright." He comments as he wipes the tears from his face. "I'm merely happy to know that I have survived."

He lets out a soft, relieved chuckle as he feels her warmth against his.

His warmth.

The sign that he is alive. It had never left him.

The peace is interrupted slightly as Gabriel heads towards the two.

-<Hey, um... Sorry if I wasn't really able to help all that well. Glad to see you're okay, though.>- They announce. -<If you want any help in the future, just give me a call, alright? Sure, work may be making me lose my sleep schedule, but I'll still have time to check in every now and then. How's that sound?>-

He glances towards his manager. "I suppose it shall help along the way." He answers. "No matter how long it takes, I will make sure it is beneficial towards my path."

[lcbyuri]

She cracks open her eye to acknowledge the manager for a brief moment before going back to hugging, matching the tempo of her breathing with his and nuzzling his shoulder. When Gabriel's footsteps are no longer heard, she murmurs, "They're able to sleep?"

It's just a strange and sudden observation that it even makes her surprised, an irrelevant notice that barely has anything to do with the things that just happened. But in a way, it proves that things are alright again.

[eternal-haunt]

The manager lets out a slight laugh. Although, I was just silence and a slight head movement.

-<And I still don't know how I'm able to.>- They remark. -<Anyhow, I think it's best to give you two some alone time for now. Not to mention, we'll need to give Samsa a mercy kill so I can actually revert his injuries.>-

So, Gabriel bids the Erlking farewell, dragging an unconscious Samsa back to the bus with the other sinners following along. However, before she fully departs, Panza stops in her tracks, silently giving her co-worker a nod of affirmation before leaving to catch up with the rest.

[lcbyuri]

"Blegh. For some reason, the name of the other-Gregor leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Probably just his ties to N Corp, though."

She doesn't notice Panza's nod, nor the other Sinners leaving, focusing solely on Heathcliff. When they're all gone, she peeks her head out, only her eye visible from his sight. "What do you want to do? We have... a lot of time. Gabriel said so, anyway. I'm fine with anything."

She'd go as far as to say she's content just standing here until they get too cold and have to go inside, but that's an idealistic worldview. Although she could probably last a while, she's gotten used to warm blankets and layers, so she chuckles to herself.

[eternal-haunt]

He chuckles slightly over Yuri's remark regarding Samsa. "Yes, he is quite the handful." He comments.

"I suppose we could rest here for a while." He then adds. "After all, I have gotten rather exhausted after all of that. And we might as well catch up with one another. I suppose you and your other co-workers have gotten rather busy from time to time."

[lcbyuri]

"Ah, yeah, busy..."

Busy isn't the word to describe her in comparison to the rest of the bus. She has no clue what they've been up to, but Yuri herself has been hiding in her room for the past 2 or so weeks and has barely gone outside. Today is probably the longest time she's seen the sky in days, which is... concerning, and the reason she nods along.

"Come on, let's go find somewhere to sit. and you can tell me all about what you've been doing. Ah, I haven't been up to anything special--" a severe overstatement, because she wasn't doing anything, "--so I'll let you go first."

[eternal-haunt]

Softly nodding, he leads Yuri towards the living room, resting her near the fireplace as he sits alongside her.

"Hm... Well, I suppose I could be able to start with the Walpurgis Night we faced a couple of weeks ago." He began. "I suppose if was quite the bit of fresh air that we were facing an abnormality instead of an ordeal. Although, I did receive a new identity out of it, though. I believe it is one of my strongest yet."

As he trails along with his tangent, a spark of passion rises within his eyes. A clear sign of vibrant life. For him, it felt relieving to witness that life be regained, but he knew it was there all along. It was just lost within the smoke-ridden sea.

[lcbyuri]

She nods along, taking a part of her hair to braid so she can stay focused and busy at the same time. She'll form a plait, then undo it, then make it again, all while listening to him go on about the perceived strength of the Sword Sharpened with Tears. Honestly, she usually lets someone like Jane or Kromer handle the battle logistics, so she doesn't really understand what he's saying, but she tries her best. In all, it sounds very strong and cool, and she expresses this to him when he takes a pause.

The light in his eyes makes it even easier to listen, as she knows he's back to his normal self. He has something to be excited about, something that is his that he is allowing her to hear. It's not really a secret, Sinner IDs are well-known amongst the bus group, but the way he tells her makes it feel like one. All she can feel is excited for him, that he is even stronger, as well as pride.

[eternal-haunt]

"...All in all, I suppose handling such strength is a sign of progress. Being able to clear the battlefield quicker than before." He concludes, letting out a sigh as he regains his breath. Gazing upon Yuri fiddling with her hair, his eyes widen slightly like a curious cat. "I suppose I got rather off-track there."

[lcbyuri]

"Hm? No, nonono, it was interesting, I promise! Sorry, I just needed something to do. I promise I was listening," she reassures, her eye wide. "That's good that you can spend less time fighting. I worry a lot, you know, and I hate seeing you hurt. Ah, when they told me you Distorted..."

Actually, when they told her he Distorted, her first thought was that it was too early in the morning for this. Then it was concern, overwhelming amounts, with anxiety layered on top, leaving her paralyzed. But he doesn't need to know about that, so she lets him fill in the blank.

Her embarrassment wears off, and she notes his look. Cute. Letting go of her braid, the hair coming undone at the bottom, she supports herself as she leans back. "Anything else special happen to you?"

[eternal-haunt]

He quickly reverts to pondering until another recollection clicks within his mind.

"Ah, I do recall another event that occurred recently." He announces. "I came in contact with a person who was the child of another variant of mine. It makes me think of how interesting discovering worlds you have not previously known of can be."

He lets out a soft and gentle laugh.

"The child of that variant was with Catherine, though. The one who got erased." He adds. A vague hint of sorrow within. "They remember her, but do not know what happened to her. As if she merely went missing."

Noticing the reminiscence, he quickly stops.

"Perhaps we should move on to a lighter topic than recalling an erased person. Not after... well... I believe you already know."

[lcbyuri]

"Catherine..." she echoes, tone thoughtful. "Ah, is this like the Cathy name you made me remember? I wrote it down on my PDA so I wouldn't forget."

Upon his suggestion (personal request, really), she hums. "Well, I bet they're a cute kid and you're a good dad to them. I bet you spoil them rotten.

I wonder if I want children... ah, it's too early to say, isn't it? I heard they're devils, anyway. I can barely take care of myself, haha!"

Her eye flits to him. "Do you want kids?"

How is this what they're talking about?

[eternal-haunt]

"Yes, that Catherine. I'm glad you still remember." He utters. Even if it's only her name she remembers, it's enough. No more, no less.

On the new topic, however...

"Well, I'm unsure as of now. I already have several abnormalities to take care of here, after all. In a way, they are children all on their own, are they not?"

[lcbyuri]

"Oh, right! And there's all the birds, too... You have your hands full completely. Don't let the manor turn into too much of a zoo," she playfully comments, smiling. "Where do you fit in time for me if you're taking care of them?"

A pause.

"Wait. Abnormalities?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Yes, I may have also received a Dream-Devouring Siltcurrent." He adds. "The Heathcliff of Lobotomy Corporation aided in creating its enclosure. It's gotten rather tame ever since. As much as I might be able to obtain more through messenger gifts, I'm unsure as to whether or not this manor might become more of a labyrinth than a zoo."

[lcbyuri]

Her mouth drops, staring incredulously at him. "Huh? A- A what? Huh? In the manor? Where you sleep? Are you crazy?" Yes.

Struggling to form a kind and appropriate response, she flounders some more before deciding to just let him live. He's had it thusfar and been fine, so surely he doesn't need her nagging about how dangerous that is and whatnot. Heathcliff can handle himself just fine, with or without an Abnormality in the building.

"Maybe just... don't. Uhm, accept any, uh, anymore? For the time being," is the only advice she can give, looking behind her as if the Siltcurrent will just appear. "How are you calm about this? What- What else do you have, besides the birds?"

[eternal-haunt]

Yes. Yes, he was crazy, but in a good sort of way. He couldn't deny it any longer with what he had said.

Giving a nod of affirmation, he continues. "Another messenger may have also gifted me a small pack of wolves. Although, they enjoy the outside more than the inside. Even then, that does not stop some of them from wandering inside to greet me. Despite their quietness, they are fond of anyone who are acquaintances with me."

[lcbyuri]

"...Wolves," she echoes breathlessly, shock imbued in the single word. "Huh."

He really turned his manor into some kind of animal and abnormality adoption center. Of course he did. She'll never understand rich people, although he isn't really rich himself, per se. Plus, she has all the birds, so... There's something hypocritical in there, about her judging (?) him.

"Well, uhm, as long as it makes you happy!" she says with a slightly too cheery voice, hazarding a glance at his lips and then his chest. Damn. "Does Miss Nelly help you take care of them, or something? And Lob Corp Heathcliff, him too?"

[eternal-haunt]

"Of course." He continues. "I suppose it has begun to be a part of our routine now."

He wonders about what else he could talk about, and something else clicks in his mind.

"Although, wrapping around back to the original topic, I remember something else that had occurred on the bus not so long ago." He begins. "A few messengers were meddling with powers beyond their control and trapped Samsa in a strange space between worlds for a couple of days. We were able to get him out, though."

[lcbyuri]

"Mhm, that's a shame..." She's zoned out staring at him, evident in how she trails off and her blank expression. After a moment, though, she comes back to herself, blinking a couple times and looking clueless. "Oh, uh, you- uhh, well, he looked fine earlier, you know, besides being knocked out! So you did a good job getting him out! Ohh, it's- The anons, they have way too much power. Do you not have regulations on what you can accept or have done to you? For us, Gretchen -- uh, that's the 2nd Sinner, she allows us to decline any anons that would pose an immediate threat to us or the bus. Of course, that doesn't mean that we can just decline everything, like, uh, spontaneous combusion, because that's out of our control, but things like people, Color Fixers, even..."

[eternal-haunt]

"I suppose they were merely experimenting, though, as they were trying to gift him a golden bough." He carries on. "Somehow, in some way, the golden bough corrupted, morphing into something with similar properties to a black hole. Then, the messengers thought it would be a fun idea to multiply the corrupt bough until it collapsed in on itself and tore a hole through reality itself, creating a gateway into that void. Luckily, the boughs we had previously collected were enough to seal it before it could worsen."

[lcbyuri]

"I-I'm sorry?" She's back to making eye contact. "It did- What?"

The more she hears about Heathcliff's bus, the more thankful she is that she is on her own. Sure, it can be brutal sometimes, like with coworker conflicts and Distortions, but those have seemingly died down, and weren't anywhere on the scale of a whole black hole. And sure, she still doesn't like Samsa for some reason, but even she can admit that trapping him in something like that is overly cruel.

"Is- Uh, did he come out of it, like, fine? Doesn't time warp in black holes? How long was he in there for? Were you okay during it? See, this is why you need someone who can regulate what you're given through anons, you know... Imagine if that was you. Do you know how worried I'd be? Why would he even accept it? Does he not have void tickets like the rest of us?"