Something's ... Not Right (Open)

[true_noir]

WHO: Chloe and You!
WHERE: In and around Recolle
WHEN: 4/6-4/12
WHAT: Awkwardness as Chloe notices some things are not right with her body
WARNINGS: Nup

Option 1) It was a Thursday, like any other Thursday since she'd gotten this silly app on her phone. She was trying to keep her life normal and together, and doing a good job of it. In fact, following through with Yu and Naoto's request had helped a little, taking some of the worry away from her life. Having just finished her shift, she was walking back towards the bus station to get a ride home when it happened. There at the cross-walk, maybe she was a bit tired, but she started to cross before it was her light. There was a honk of distress from a car and Chloe acted.

Really, she wasn't in any danger. The driver was over-reacting and swerving successfully to miss her. But, the honk caused an immediate reaction. Her body launched back without her thinking, leaping up and into the air, sommersaulting back and landing lightly on her feet. The motion was far too limber for what she should have been able to do. It wasn't like she was in poor shape, but leaping like that in the air felt beyond her. As she landed, her eyes widened and she took two or three shaky steps back before falling unceremoniously on her butt.

"What... just happened?" she said, looking around in shock.

Option 2) When she wasn't helping out with the play, Chloe had a couple of days off on the weekend. She tried to visit the local gym to get a bit of the stress out. There was a horse set up there for those who wished to practice gymnastics, and she found herself staring at it with a nervous look in her eyes. Biting her lips, she walked over and patted it, reaching up to scratch at the back of her head.

"Should I?" she asked, wondering for a moment before going to put chalk on her hands. There was only one way to find out if the strange itching sensation in her arms and legs was real. She was feeling restless, restless like her body wasn't moving the way that it should, that it needed to move.

Option 3) There was bad news on Friday, news she did not want to hear. It had her in Starbucks, fumbling for a drink of mint tea. She wanted to calm her jangled nerves. There had to be a logical explanation for any of this. She was tempted to ask on the network, but at this point she wasn't even carrying her phone with her. She'd warned her boss that if he needed her to call the land-line, that she was trying to test out what happened if she didn't use the network. She wasn't going to break that promise.

She had to know if this was affected by the app, or if it was simply happening. But, as it stood, she was getting nervous and worried... and the tea was only helping a little.

Wildcard (Anything that you want can be managed. Chloe is off network for this week, helping out at the play and frequenting work. She has just experienced the return of her natural athleticism and agility, along with the realization that her hair color actually changed last month and wasn't dyed while drunk like she thought. It's causing her to start to freak out again. Either way, if your character wants to meet up with her, we can handwave that they left a message on her answering machine at home.)

Comments

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor flicks her finger, and the can darts up, just above Chloe's leg as it passes by, then drops back down to her palm.]

...Not a bad way to practice, I guess.

[She shrugs.]

I don't know how to not be busy, Chloe.

[true_noir]

I am a little the same way, though you are more than me. I suppose it just means that I will have to learn to make sure that we are busy together, to help keep up.

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor floated the can up for her to try again.]

I guess I can't argue with it, anyway.

[true_noir]

[This was becoming something of a target practice session, Chloe aiming to kick the can around. Kind of a novel approach to a child's game, really.]

Mmm, you could try, but I'm a stubborn soul, you should know. I have never been good at taking no for an answer.

[notyourutopian]

Somehow that doesn't surprise me.

[And dodge. And weave. The can would float around for Chloe to try and kick over and over as much practicing was had.]

[true_noir]

Mmm, so you've caught on that I'm a tenacious soul at times, have you? What other of my little secrets have you managed to glean already, I wonder?

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor just smirked.]

That would be telling, wouldn't it?

[The can zipped up a bit higher, then darted forward to float just above Chloe's head. Eleanor's eyes were narrowed as she did this, and her breathing was starting to get a bit heavy. She hadn't really tried to do something for this long yet.]

[true_noir]

[Chloe focused as it raised a little, not noticing that the strain was starting to work on Eleanor some. Her body tensed and she jumped up, spinning in a sommersault. The 'kick' was more accurately her shin connecting and bludgeoning it out of the way, and her landing was a crouch that barely stuck, but she managed it, coming to the ground again without breaking anything.]

Heh... I think, that's enough of that. Starting to feel a little winded.

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor was impressed enough with that little trick that the can didn't move at all until Chloe kicked it, sending it clattering away down the street.]

...Wow.

[true_noir]

Still... getting the hang of that. It's not as easy as it looks. [She smiled over at her, rubbing her shin.] The girl makes it look like it's the same as walking to her, but I think it kind of is. She must have spent most of her life training like that, because she's no older than I am.

[notyourutopian]

Hm. Well, think about it this way.

[Eleanor reached out with her mind and scooped up the can again, floating it over to drop into a nearby trashcan.]

You don't have to become her. But you can take the bits of her that you like and steal them. I'm never going to be murdering masked men in strange tunnels...but.

[She grinned and waved a hand.]

Doesn't mean I can't learn to throw cans around with my brain, right?

[true_noir]

[That was a dangerous road. The more that she stole from this woman, the more that she risked becoming the woman. But, still, her friend had a point. So long as she made it clear that there were things she wasn't going to take up, then she was still her.]

And just because I am not stabbing bad people left and right does not mean that I cannot enjoy her body's benefits?

[notyourutopian]

Pretty much.

[She shrugged.]

Maybe you should try out for the Olympics.

[true_noir]

[She laughed softly and shook her head.]

Let us start small, a little free-running and I play on a horse at the gym. I try for gold medals later, perhaps? I am sure that there might be a demonstration or competition locally at some point.

Thinking of making me famous are we now? You could say that you were the one who helped me find my true calling, no?

[notyourutopian]

[Eleanor grinned.]

I'm more the 'jump off the cliff and learn to fly' I guess. But you're probably right. Hm, if you do become rich and famous, I expect a cut for suggesting it, though.

[true_noir]

I am only jumping off cliffs to fly if you are jumping with me. [The girl's smile was a little infectious, and helpful right now.] And a cut you will have. After all, if I get rich and famous, I can't very well spend it all.

[notyourutopian]

You'd be surprised how easy it is to spend a lot of money.

[She said this wryly. Her family was pretty well off, as much as she didn't really talk about.]

Anyway. Ah...thanks for listening. I should probably head back home.

[true_noir]

Not if you have boring tastes like mine, though I suppose high quality wine can be expensive. [She giggled as she said that.] And do not worry about it.

We will speak again soon, Eleanor. It is always good to talk to you. [Said as she waved her friend off.]

[notyourutopian]

Again, you'd be surprised.

[She smiled, and then impulsively stepped closer to give her friend a hug.] Thanks Chloe.

[And then she turned, swinging her purse back onto her shoulder, and was a few steps away before she looked back.]

And turn your phone back on!

[And then off she went.]