570/Moving In Day

From Radiant Heart MUSH

Moving In Day
Date of Scene: 08 October 2023
Location: Dorms #2
Synopsis: Norie and Veronica become dormmates. A secret is shared. One secret is not shared.
Cast of Characters: Norie Okana, Veronica Perenna


Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana was moving into the dorms today from home. The short of it was her parents didn't wanna deal with her 'attitude' anymore she'd developed since her accident. It wasn't that she had an attitude. It's just that when one is dealing with losing half your emotional spectrum and nothing can fix that and no one understands except people you can tell that too, well.

It makes one combative.

So Norie Okana has some boxes by the door, placing her last smallest one on the top and looking down at it. She seems. Sulky. As she usually does. The black haired girl softly looking down and peeking the door to the dorm open.

She can't.

Oh. Her dormmate, who has the key, hasn't arrived yet. So she waits, patiently, and unfolds the dorm note in her pocket into her hand. 'Veronica Perenna'. And she has the right dorm number and building. Huh.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Apparently, the Radiant Heart staff cleaned a new room in advance for Veronica and her new roommate, so in the end it turned out both of them were moving. Interesting how that worked.

This is how Veronica ended up trudging through the hallway with her suitcases filled again and Emery grumpily resting in her carrier, the distinct noise of wheels being heard well in advance among the walls of the academy.

The brunette is walking with quick steps, the motivation being the staff had given Veronica the key, since her roommate would be moving in from outside the school, so it would easier to reach her apparently.

Despite many students being new to her, this one in particular wasn't, Veronica remembering Okana-san from their encounter in the Yearbook club.

"Hello, Okana-san", the brunette smiles as she notices the dark-haired girl already standing in front of the door. "My apologies for making you wait. Was everything all right with the trip here?"

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana sort of face-faults a little. Oh it's that girl. Who wanted to embroider all the yearbook covers. She sighs and closes her eyes and wilts a little. "Oh. Hello. Perenna-san." she says, as she blinks at the carrier. She looks down into it. Oh. A cat. An animal she can't touch because she drains on contact.

"It's fine." she says quietly. "I have not been waiting long." she says looking down at her boxes. She looks up and down them as she sighs.

"Go ahead and open the door." she says, picking up one of her boxes. "And we'll. Talk in there." she says. "Not out in the hall." she says. Her tone is monotone and quiet right now.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica is quick to follow what Norie said, letting go of her suitcases and rummaging with her free hand through the bag, taking out the key to their dorm room and opening the door.

The brunette grabs the handle of her suitcases again, going inside and taking a look around the place. As expected it really wasn't that different from her dorm room. Same living room configuration, same bedroom doors on both sides and, she would wager, same cramped bathrooms.

"Looks nice", she comments, looking at her roommate. "What do you think?"

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana places a box on the inside. And then soon, she's moving another box in and then, her last two. She sighs a little and hurries with this as she places the boxes by a bedroom door. She doesn't ask which bedroom you want, she just... assumes in taking one. They're probably both the same anyways as she looks down at her boxes again.

"I have. Rules." she says quietly.

"Please. Follow them." she says with narrowed eyes suddenly. She's just making up rules now!? "Do not. Touch me. Please. No. Hugging. No. handshaking. No. Nothing." she says quietly.

"Number two is. I also can't touch your cat. Not without. Gloves. Which. I do not own yet. Now I will have to. Work on that. Soon."

She frowns. "Third is. Please do not. Ask me to smile. I had enough of that at home. I can't... won't. Smile. Please understand. This is a condition." she says quietly.

"That's...all. For. My rules." she says quietly.

She says. "Also. Please do not. Make fun of my. Candor. I can't control it. I will. Do my best. To be unoffensive." she says quieter.

She starts to unpack her boxes. First out is a boxed set of the Twilight Movies.

She places them on a shelf in the main area, quietly.

"...sorry. If I come on. Wrong." she says gently.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica didn't quite expect her roommate to answer her question with rules.

"Rules?" she repeats, looking confused towards Norie. Not at her hating physical contact, she has heard of that, but at her stating her inability to touch her cat. Did she have some especially fragile skin? She regains her composure with a cough.

"That is all well and good, Okana-san", Veronica expresses her agreement. "I will keep Emery in my bedroom, and the door will always stay closed if I am not here."

Veronica starts unpacking her own stuff too, bringing out books such as the Inkworld series, 'Oliver Twist', and the Tetralogy of Bartimeus.

She also opens a medium suitcase, and lifts an embroidery and sewing machine out of it, setting it down onto a table on the same side as her bedroom door, exhaling air loudly in the process.

"The only thing to know about me is that I am get dizzy every now and then, but I have my protein bars for that", she warns Norie. "If you would like, I would be able to sew you those gloves. I am pretty at working by sight, I wouldn't need to get close." She winks at Norie. "A gift between roommates. And of course, I remember your rules, I am not expecting any profusions." On the contrary, she wouldn't want her roommate to believe she has forgotten just three seconds after.

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana wanted to get that out of the way first. She sulks a little. "I have. a condition. sorry." is all she can say in the end. She gently looks down at her hands as Veronica offers to make her gloves. She considers this for a long moment. "I guess so." she says quietly. "I can't hurt. Purple. Color? Please." she offers.

She opens the door to her bedroom and starts unpacking her things in there from the next box. She speaks from the next box over.

"Ah. Protein bars." she says quietly. "Do you need me to stock them too?" she asks, more loudly from the room.

"Sorry if I. talk to myself a lot. I just do that. Sorry if I. speak strangely. I just. Do that too." she says quietly.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica nods. "Sure, purple Is good, quite regal, actually. If you prefer, I could also add gold trims and any designs you would like your gloves to have. I would suggest teal as a colour for that", she offers enthusiastically. She already has all the relevant spools in her suitcase.

She has a quite considerate roommate, it seems. "I would appreciate that, Okana-san", she says smiling, even if the other girl can't see it.

She talks to herself, huh? Well, that's something she can live with. Okana-san seems like a kind person, anyway. She hopes she won't overhear any sensitive information, though.

"Things are good", she confirms to Norie. "Though I hope the trip here from your home was good too." She is a bit hesitant to pick up her earlier question due to what Norie has implied earlier, but in the end her nosiness wins out.

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana gently rubs her hand down her pendant, softly shaking her head. "No.. designs? I think. Just. Purple." she says quietly. "It is. a favored color." she says as she sighs a little. "I am not here by choice." she admits. "But my parents and brother have had enough for my demeanor and need a break. So for the foreseeable future I am here." she says quietly.

She looks down as she sits on her bed. "Sorry. I do not. Smile." she says quietly. She can't. Not since she became this. Thing. But she can't explain that to a normal person. "I have a condition that. Stops me from. Many things. So. I apologize. Quiet. Monotone. Neutral like this. Is my. Normal." she says a little tense.

"It comes off as curt. So I apologize." she says quietly as she looks back over to Veronica.

"Can I call youl Veronica-san?" she asks softly. "Or do you prefer. Your family name, Perenna-san." she says softly.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
"No designs, got it", Veronica confirms, taking a quick look at Norie's hands for confirmation. She is about to ask her whether she wants lighter gloves for use with warm weather, or winter gloves, but she reasons Norie would need them all year long, so she can present her with 2 pairs for warm weather, and 2 for colder seasons.

"I am sorry you had to go through that", Veronica comments, grimacing at the thought of being cast away from your own family. Her family was a bit strict in its norms, but at least they did enough to show they cared. Norie's apparently... just didn't.

"You do not have to apologise for that here", the brunette remarks. Adding guilt over what she guessed was some form of depression. That's absolutely inhumane. Especially since Norie has remarked how much she is conscious about that. "Okana-san, you can be open with anything you want to let out, or not, since I am still a stranger to you. But do not feel like you have to hold yourself back out of worry due my reaction, please."

Veronica nods at the dark-haired girl's request. "Certainly, Veronica-san is great too." She is more used to being addressed by her first name in the first place, so this comes natural to her. "May I call you Norie-san, then?" the brunette follows up her answer with. She also bow downs towards her smallest suitcase, swiftly bringing out her protein bars and placing them on the center table. "Want some? I would offer something more savory, but in the meantime, you could have that."

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana gently shakes her head. "I'm good. Thank you." she says softly. She gently nods. "Norie-san. Is fine." she says quietly. "Just. Being polite." she says as she finishes unpacking her things into the dresser in her room, finally, getting up from the bed she was sitting on before.

"I just. Need gloves. They'll be worn. Indoors." she says. "Everyday... gloves." she says. "So I can't touch things." she says, ominously. "Er. I mean. So. I can touch things. Without touching them. If that makes sense. I.. erm. Part of my. Condition. No touching. Remember." she says.

"Do you need me to trace my hand or...?" she asks quietly.

She does eye the protein bars as she finally says. "Donuts."

"Erm. I prefer. Donuts. You will see. Lots of. Donuts." she finally says. "But I don't have any right now" she finally says, gravely. "Donuts are my center." she finally says. "I mean."

"Meditate. I meditate. a lot. It's good for me. I. get. Angry. and stuff. Easily." she says.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica nods. The important thing is Norie now knows she is available for any kind of talk. She doesn't need to push it further. "Guants for everyday use and all kinds of situations, crystal clear", she smiles at the dark-haired girl. "I will do my best to ensure the end result is to your satisfaction. In that regard, tracing your hand would be good too", Veronica confirms. "One can never be too sure."

Veronica finishes unpacking her own stuff too, before setting Emery free in the space of her bedroom. "You stay there, I will be with you soon", she tells the meowing cat, already perceiving Veronica's intentions. The latter turns her attention back towards Norie. "Your rules are engraved in my memories, Norie-san", she reassures her with a twirl of her right hand. Not really sure that does anything here, but you do you, Veronica.

Veronica hmms. If she is out of donuts, normally she would suggest they go buy some, but would that be an invasion of private space? Guess she can try touching up on it lightly, and sees how her roommate reacts. "I know a place that's all about selling donuts, I can write the address down for you, or show you the way, if you would like to go fetch some."

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana gently looks around and. "Oh. I don't have paper. or a pen. I'll get the. tracing to you later. No need for it now. We're still not even. Setup anyways." she says as she sighs. "Sorry."

She nods. "Sorry about. Laying the rules on thick. But. They are for. Safety. My. Your. Your cat's safety." she says quietly.

She then head tilts. "Is it. Karou's? I go there when I can. But if you know another place, I'm willing to go there." she says quietly. "We can. Go get some later. I don't need any right now. but. Chocolate. Sprinkles. Are my favorite." she says. "Kind of donut." she says stiltedly. Talking about donuts sure made her a little clearer, less quiet.

"I should learn to bake them. I should visit. Baking Club." she says. "or Cooking Club. See if they might be willing to teach me. If they know..." she trails off.

"Do you have.. a favorite donut?" she asks to Veronica.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica gives her a smile over her worries, both for the tracing and for the repetition of the rules. Hopefully that will help put her at ease. She looks at her roommate quizzically when Norie states it's for her and her cat's safety too. How are they going to be put at risk if Norie touches them?

Veronica is not an expert in medical matters, but she does not remember any illness that would be transmitted by mere touch of someone's skin. She does know curses exist, she is afflicted by one after all. "Norie-san, is everything alright?" she asks with worry directed towards her roommate's wellbeing. "Is your ailment special in some way? Besides being rare, I mean. Not wanting to tell me is good, but I would like to help if I can. There is no risk of a repeat of what happened with your family, I promise", she looks at her on the alert.

"I didn't know of Kaoru's, but that would be awesome to check", she winks towards Norie, trying to keep up a calm atmosphere. "What I had in mind was Nounamu Sweets, who makes all kind of pastries, and they definitely good. It's even run by a family of a student here, so I am sure she could give you some tips on making donuts. She is called Chiyo Sakai, and I could introduce you two, if you did not meet already."

"Chocolate donuts with sprinkles sounds yummy and colourful. My favourite kind is cinnamon donuts with cardamom", she answers.

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana frowns a little. "I have a condition. I do not wish to be specific about it. I'm sorry. Just know where better off not touching." she says quietly. "Let me help you understand." she says suddenly as she suddenly reaches out and touches your arm. It's a simple touch. With two fingers. Before removing them. In that time there's a short tingle, it vaguely stings. A short, minute, second long energy drain. If Veronica has the senses, there's definitely a little sense of dark energy there.

She frowns a little. "Do you understand now?" she asks quietly. "I can't touch you. I can't touch your cat. It's bad for me to touch things." she says. She doesn't explain further.

She then settles. She takes a deep breath, and releases it, trying to calm down.

"Sorry."

"Nounamu Sweets... never heard of that one before. Alright. I should. Check it out. If they have donuts." she says quietly. "I don't know a Chiyo Saki." she says. She nods. "Cinnamon Donuts. Not my choice for favorite. But if I had to choose a second. It'd be powdered sugar. They way they pooomf with sugar is silly to me." she says in a settling monotone.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Dark energy aside, the sensation of being drained is familiar to Veronica, since it's a biweekly occurrence for her. So even that small contact is enough to give her an understanding of what is going on.

'So it's indeed a curse', she looks darkly at the point where Norie's fingers touched her arm. Things start making some semblance of sense, between the constantly spent reaction Norie gives out, why her family would not want her around. She is a bottomless well that wants to be filled. Or maybe a sponge that can't be ever saturated?

Veronica sighs before speaking to Norie. "That is a perilous situation you find yourself in. I hope you do not get alarmed if I want to try something."

Traces of white magical energy on her fingertips, Veronica swipes her hand from roughly below her left shoulder outwards, a calling card now held by her hand. "While the world is full of trouble and anxious in its sleep, the princess of moonlight does dance and leap." she says, holding the calling card vertically outwards, leaving her insignia of cane and hat visible from Norie's position. The aforementioned moonlight bathes her, condensing in a blue top hat with an azure ribbon and an ebony cane with a cat handle. The light on her upper body then explodes in a tone of white, turning into a waistcoat, before a blue burst surrounds it, coalescing into a blue suit. The light swirling around her lower body stops rotating, arranging itself in a white skirt with many layers. A blue-white burst follows, turning into boots with long stripes. Finally the moonlight gathers around her hair, fashioning it into a long braid and granting it its colour.

"The Princess of Sarek, at your service", she introduces herself with a smirk and a bow, her left hand keeping her hat in place by the hem. Veronica takes the hat off, before looking inside it and grabbing two objects out of it, one at a time, a ceramic vase with silver reliefs, and a painted fan adorned with silk ribbons, placing them on the table.

"They are harmless", Veronica mentions. "Now, anyway. They are energy reservoirs. They intended purpose is another, but I would like to see if they can help you."

"It would be my pleasure to introduce you and Sakai-san", Veronica confirms to Norie lastly.

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana blinks a little when Veronica sighs a little and she goes crosseyed when she says it's a perilous situation she finds herself in. She blinks when she watches Veronica transform into the Princess of Sarek and she blinks a little.

Wait, wasn't she....

When she was targeting that other girl...

She doesn't blurt anything out, but she plays dumb. She continues to remain crosseye. She blinks a little. "Huh...?" she asks, confusion still one of the feelings she's able to feel, and accurately represent before frowning a little hard. "Fine. What are these objects?" she bluntly asks before you actually answer her. Energy reservoirs. She seems confused. "Energy. Reservoirs." she says.

"What exactly. Do you think is going on here?" she asks quietly, finally, blinking a little.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
-What exactly do you think is going on here?- If there was a question that could ring a thousand of alarm bells, it would be that one. 'Have I taken a wrong step somewhere?' Veronica questions herself, keeping her disconcert hidden from Norie's eyes. "Nothing much, I just think you have a curse on you too, and I want to see if those can be of any use to you. I do not have much of a use for them right now, not until the collection is complete."

Veronica shrugs. "If you think they do not help, I will put them away, and I will not speak of this again. But if they can help you out even just partially, then it would be mission accomplished. Besides the fact curses should not exist, I just want to help out. Nothing else besides that. You could say it is my creed that injustice should be fought against." She stays silent then, hoping that whatever misstep she took got hashed out by those words.

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana cross eyes again and blinks a little. "A curse...?" she asks, before frowning a little. She hrfs a little, gently gripping her pendant, and strokes it. She would laugh if she could right now. She isn't sure whether to come clean or not about what she is. The girl clearly thinks something is going on magical. She transformed.

She can only play dumb for so long after all. The girl transformed and she didn't freakout. This probably isn't helping throw her suspicion.

"I already... have a means of storing energy." she says quietly. Thumbing her pendant anxiously.

She doesn't transform. She does things. She can't let Veronica-san know who she really is. But at the same time. She has too much suspicion.

"I am. Vampire." she says bluntly. "I eat energy. I hate it." she says quietly. "I can't control my feeding. So. It's best I do not touch people. or animals." she says. "Especially animals."" she stresses quietly.

"I don't want to talk. About this anymore." she says more quieter.

"Take me to this sweets shop. I obviously need donuts now." she says, a little dourly.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Well, that could have gone worse, but it also could have gone better. She is a bit skeptical about Norie's method to store energy being enough given her list of rules, and her family wanting nothing to do with her, but still, pressing the matter would do more damage instead of finding out a resolution, so she just puts the artifacts back and returns to normal wordlessly. She doesn't say anything about her being a vampire either.

She just walks into her bedroom for a second to pet Emery and tell her she will be back, before rejoining with Norie. "I am ready now, Norie-san, if you would come with me, please." She feels a bit frigid over the result still, but hopefully Nounamu sweets will have just what it takes to mend things with Norie.

"Sakai-san is a very sweet person, and not just because of the job, so I think you can get along with her." With that, she walks outside the door, closing it after Norie gets out of the dorm room too.