(no subject)

[thatonething]

[the Mansion seems to be favouring Aokos lately — here's yet another one, looking quite ordinary (which in itself is almost unusual, given the recent trend of newcomers), as well as very confused and not a little wary. She creeps along in her winter high school uniform, peeking into rooms and doing her best to be quiet]

Comments

[shednotearsformagic]

...

Why do you have Berry's things if you're another Aoko?

[fishpanties]

She passed them on to me.

[Bows, with all of the politeness one would expect of the average Aoko.]

My name's Coco.

[shednotearsformagic]

Why?

Well, as you know, I'm Kira.

[fishpanties]

My hair's a little long to leave down, don't you think?

Kira from . . . Aather, right?

[shednotearsformagic]

....that's not the question I'm asking and you know it.

Yes.

[fishpanties]

Well, why else would I have hair-clips and ribbons?

[Maybe my nickname should've been Avoidance.]

Are you still there?

[shednotearsformagic]

Coco.

Yes.

[fishpanties]

Mmm . . . I'd thought as much.

[shednotearsformagic]

You're evading my question. Still.

[fishpanties]

[Sighs, pushing her sunglasses back up with the tip of a finger.]

Is it really that important, Kira-san?

[shednotearsformagic]

Yes.

[fishpanties]

[but what if i don't want to admit that, once upon a time, i was the aoko you knew and loved?]

Ah, well . . .

[SIGHS, shrugging]

I might have been her.

[shednotearsformagic]

...

What.

[fishpanties]

When I say that Berry passed them on to me, I mean that Berry used to be a name I answered to.

[shednotearsformagic]

....

Explain.

[fishpanties]

Amnesia.

It doesn't matter. I have my memories back.

[shednotearsformagic]

Again?

Of course it matters.

[fishpanties]

It really doesn't.

[Shifts her weight -- she had been keeping it mostly off her right leg, but now she stands evenly.]

You probably want to look around . . .

[shednotearsformagic]

There is very little that matters more than you.

[fishpanties]

. . . You have Berry, Kira-san.

[Somebody has learned a few solid lessons about poker face.]

[shednotearsformagic]

You're still her.

[fishpanties]

I'm far from her.

[shednotearsformagic]

It doesn't matter.

Even if you chose a new name, you're still going to be Aoko to me.

[fishpanties]

[. . . and if the slight twitch and curl of the fingers is any indication, Coco does not approve. It's brief, however, and the smile doesn't budge.]

As long as you don't expect me to answer to it.

[shednotearsformagic]

I'll use the name you prefer, but I'm not going to forget who you were, or let it change my feelings for you. Aoko, Berry, Coco, you're still my friend, even if you change.