2042/Prepping for First Date

Prepping for First Date
Date of Scene:	05 November 2024
Location:	Radiant Heart Academy
Synopsis:	Miho and Amy have a talk while Miho preps for her first date.
Cast of Characters:	Miho Inada, Amanda Faust

---

Miho Inada has posed:
    Well, after the rose bush fight, and finally admitting to each other their feelings, Miho and Hinote have been busy with things. Miho knows Hinote is busy, so she's been focused on getting just the right outfit. The woman texted Amy last night for some opinions, but things got a bit busy as Miho got a flash of inspiration for one of her songs. This new mix has been working its way in her mind since the Chrono fight. So...Miho texted Amy, and said she was bringing some dinner. This usually means she wants to talk a bit, and needs some unique prespectives.

    Miho knocks on Amy's Dorm room. "Amy? You alive in there? You have your shorts on?", she asks, laughing a bit at that. She has to wonder why Amy had made the comment about making sure the sweater was short enough to show she has shorts. "Seriously, coming in!"

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy explained that!

                                      Miho                            
           I'm torn between a black slip on dress
           with a black lace sheer lace shirt, and
           a bare shoulder sweater with a skirt  
           and thigh high tights.                

                               ...You did hear the part about how I  
                               was raised as a boy and know nothing  
                               about this?                            
                                                                     
                               Uhhhhh... The sweater looks so comfy  
                               and I'm sure there's a cuteness there  
                               boys can see, but the black and sheer  
                               is a cool gothy look that's probably  
                               also appealing.                        
                                                                     
                               ...I guess it depends, are you going  
                               for cool or cute?                      

           Thats why I'm asking you. You get to  
           tell me both sides. How boys look at  
           it, and how you see it. I'm kinda going
           for cute. You know I hate skirts, but  
           well...For him, its ok.                

                               I may also be ace or something. I can  
                               only gauge what's popular, as far as  
                               that goes. But couldn't you get the    
                               same effect with shorts instead of the
                               skirt? ...Just don't make 'em so short
                               they can't be seen under the sweater,  
                               or all he'll be able to do is wonder if
                               there are any shorts at all...        

           Well, probably. Wait, wonder if I have
           shorts on underneath? Wh-what?! He    
           would know I have something on        
           underneath that. Did you have something
           happend that made people wonder?!      

                               It's what *I* was wondering when I had
                               a sleepover at a girl friend's place a
                               long time ago. Also I was lounging in  
                               the dorm room in an oversized T-shirt  
                               and shorts and Chrono came in to talk  
                               to me and got all embarassed, so.      

           Yeah well, thats always a question when
           wearing oversized! But that just tells
           you what was on his mind! *laughs*    
           Chrono seems nice. I'm glad that I had
           my barriers up when I fought him      
           though. His attacks look like they can
           do some real damage.                  

    Anyway, Amy was once again reading manga on her computer for fun, only to get punched in the gut with feels reflecting her own situation and then she gets another text from Miho, which reminds her of the earlier conversation. She is, in fact, wearing her oversized black T-shirt with the words APERTURE LABORATORIES on it and athletic shorts that are shorter than the shirt. She does not bother to change before Miho shows up. It's Miho.

    Hearing the knock, Amy slips out of her chair and strides towards the door, opening her mouth to answer the first question but getting interrupted by the second. "Yes." She says, slightly testily. "I do have shorts on under this." She opens the door. "So, what did you bring?"

    Food, clothing, and problems, the question applies to all. After a moment, Amy steps aside to let Miho (and any food, clothing, and problems she brought) inside, closing the door behind her and returning to her computer chair.

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho just gives this small laugh a little bit. She passes over a hamburger and fries. She also picked up some shakes. The woman wasn't sure what flavor Amy would like, so she got chocolate and strawberry flavors. "Sorry, sorry. I couldn't hlep it. And with everything going on, I figured we both could use a laugh.", she says. The woman settles down as she looks at Amy a bit. "Plus, I was wondering how you were doing.", she says.

    The woman settles on the bunk, before pulling out a small USB drive. "Oh, been working on a new song. Its based on the training session.", she tells. Miho stretches a bit as she looks at the bags with the clothing in it. There's a necklace that Miho's been wearing lately, but there's a new charm on it. A red rocket launcher next to the magnifying glass and dolphin. "I could have texted you the details about how he fights, but I figured talking about Chrono would be better. His style...was odd. Orbs, swords, and he can do this barrier thing with ice, but then after it covers him, he shoots it out.", she tells.

    Miho opens up her burger. Amy can tell right away that its not a normal hamburger. Saddly, its a vegan burger. "Old habits. I still think that I have to watch weight.", she explains, looking at the vegan burger and a small salad.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Hamburger, fries, and milkshakes?! Amy's face brightens immediately as she takes the offered food back to her desk. She'll take the strawberry shake this time.

    How was she doing? Amy shrugs. "Not getting anything done today, I guess. Just getting in some chilling before the next crazy thing happens."

Earlier:
    Amy is once again left alone in her room. It sure seems like Mio's been away a lot lately. Amanda's eyes reflect the brightness of the computer screen. Right-left-downright-left click, right-left-downright-left click. Her expression is... curious, but wary. She doesn't think this story is going to be good, it's comphet and kinda skeevy, but, the premise's execution is one she hasn't seen before and maybe there'll be something in here, who knows?

    She's not expecting it when it comes:

      People say that girls aren't supposed to be strong like men, but...      

               ...I can't shake the feeling that I still have to.              

A simplification of an aspect of gender roles and toxic masculinity it may be, but yeah, Amy has to stand up and pace around the room for a bit as memories of how she was shortly after the change run through her head. It was because she was still thinking of herself as an adult that had to protect the 'children', too, but she can't say for sure that wasn't part of it too.

    The rest of the story sucked, and then she got a text...

Now
    Wondering how she was doing? Amy shrugs. "I'm fine, I guess." And then smiles again, "Thanks for the food though!" She holds out her hand for the USB drive, if Miho wants her to play it.

    "I've fought alongside him, yeah. He comes from somewhere where like... they have magitech spells. They're not empowered by fate or contracts to fight monsters so much as that's just how the military and police fight, on his world. Not that the rest of us don't do our fair share of calling our attacks, too."

    On to the burgers. Amy winces as watching weight is mentioned. Her stories seldom mention that as a concern, although she thinks she's seen it at least once, and it certainly did cross her mind way back when, when she was Mallory -- he had to admit to himself that even if he did somehow magically get the body he would prefer, that he might not be able to keep it in shape.

    Amy doesn't know how well she'd do if she weren't a magical girl, but does remember just a few days or weeks in having a conversation about that at breakfast in the cafeteria -- it was the first time she met Rashmi -- and she stopped eating her delicious fluffy pancake halfway and practically rushed back to the apartment to distract herself from hunger. The yukata shopping trip was postponed and so she didn't eat for the rest of the day.

    That was very stupid. She was ravenous the next morning.

    The conversation just keeps tripping over things like this. "I... am given to understand that it's never so simple, but... we're lucky that magic and physical activity seems to result in staying in shape, yeah. ...Is a veggie burger actually fewer calories than a meat one? ...Do you want half of mine, and I'll take half? I'm kind of curious how those veggie burgers even taste."

    Amy sighs, and slumps back in her chair a little, and pops a fry in her mouth. Mmm, grease and salt. "So, what did you want to talk about? Or, I guess if you're showing me outfits, we should do that after eating... what do you wanna do while we eat, then...?"

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho hands over the USB drive. There's a crapload of songs on there, but there's one marked Khronos War thats been updated today. She takes a deep breath, and nods her head as she breaks her burger in half. "Warning you abou the texture. These are better then most, but well, the texture aways throws people off.", she tells. The woman hand over the half. "Yeah, Magitech? Sounds confusing as all hell. With my magic, its...me. I just know it from an instinctive level. Likes its me. I just see and do.", she admits.

    The woman gives a small chuckle. "I've just been on pins and needles thinking about the date. You know, getting ready for it, and getting those butterflies. I feel like I could go up against the champs in the cage, and feel safer then getting ready for the date.", she admits. "I know it sounds silly, but I just...don't want to embrass myself.", Miho says. "Plus, he did fight a youma to get me a rose.", she blushes. "I have to make sure everything is perfect.", she tells.

    She takes a moment to open up the two bags. There's looks to be a black dress that looks way to small for Miho. And there looks to be a white sweater that seems a little big. She puts them off to the side for a moment. "You could say nerves are getting to me a little bit. I've never really been...girly before.", she tells. "Also, the song is Kronos War. I've still working on the title.", she admits. The mix if played has a really heavy bass with a bubbly flute in it. With it, there's a guitar riff that just seems to go against the bass. There's a drum that seems to control the tempo of the song though. One can get the sense that the Bass is the boss of the song, and the others are trying to fight against it. Its still an EDM mix though.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy takes the half-burger and takes a bite. "Huh." is all she says about the texture. "I don't know what I expected."

    While chewing, she uses a swiss-army knife from her backpack to cut her own before wiping the blade off with a tissue and closing it and putting it back, giving Miho half of the beef burger as promised. "I don't know how it works. With my magic... Some stuff I just sorta knew I could do? Other things I have to like, think of them, and maybe picture to some degree how they'd work, and I'll like... feel that there's a thing I can do. Like flexing an extradimensional muscle. Other things happened automatically, although I learned to do them on purpose later."

    Amy listens to Miho's worries. She smiles sympathetically. "I don't... know much about dates. Hannah's always... taken the lead on things like that. But if you like each other... would the stuff you're worried about being embarassed about really make you like eachother any less?"

    The redhead shrugs. "Then again, I'm ace or demi or something. To me it seems like... a significant other is just a really good friend that you're cool with being intimate with in more ways, and they you. And you," she smiles, "really like being around them. And they make you feel safe and loved and valuable..."

    She stares off into space for a moment, smiling, and then comes back down to Earth. "Well. That's. Um. What... well. I mean. I don't know what anyone would see in me, I sure can't do that like Hannah can, but..." She shakes her head. "I dunno. I dunno. I am not an expert in love. I'm only more confused, if anything, for having thought I was a straight guy for so long."

    The admission of never having been girly before does make Amy give a short, involuntary laugh. "I... guess I can understand that! Like... 'am I doing it right? Will everyone be able to tell I'm just a confused kid who doesn't know what she's doing trying to be a woman?'" Amy grimaces sympathetically.

    "I wonder if everyone feels that way. Maybe he's talking to his guy friends right now like... 'She's so cool! Pun not intended. I fought a monster and got her a rose, but like... does that come off as too dramatic? Or will it make her feel like she has to make a grand gesture too, I don't know, how do you do this! I've never really been manly before!'"

    Amy shrugs, and plays the song. "...This is pretty cool! You made this?!"

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho nods her head a little bit. "There's a bit of work with the DJ AI, and tuning. And then if I play it live, there's some work that I have to do manually while playing.", she admits with a bit of blush. "Really, its just a draft.", Miho tells as she takes the beef burger. She noms on it a bit. There's a slight shiver there. Gawd, she has to remind herself that she's allowed to have this stuff now.

    "And yeah, can you see Hinote flexing in front of guys, going, 'Yea, I got that rose! I got to flex.' ", Miho snickers. Now that Miho has that image in her head, she can't help but laugh at that. It almost brings her to tears. "Either way. He's taking lead on things on that. He had dinner planned out. At least before I kissed him.", she blushes.

    "I think...its really the first 'date' that makes everyone nervious. Its like its offical...or real to a certain point. After that, yeah, I can say it would feel more like a close friend. But what you said, feeling safe, and just...be myself.", she admits. "No expectations or obligations. Just have fun, and not feel pressured.", Miho tells.

    "And trust me, if I showed you a video from a couple of months ago, you'd die laughing at me.", she tells. The woman shakes her head. "I had to act like the bubbly cheerleader for a fighter at my dad's gym. That was so embrassing...Especially when they had asked me questions...", she says.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy listens, nomming on burger. Or at least, on plant-protein-based imitation burger substitute. She smiles as Miho laughs. "I... just... was swept up in things. When Hannah asked me out on a date all I could think of was how much I wanted to see her again, even if I was afraid it was wrong." Amy sighs. "I hope you can have that comfort and being yourself soon."

    She smirks at the story. "Oh, dear. Why do parents do things like that to their kids? At least you can laugh about it and aren't worried your friends will read into it."

    And then a thought crosses her mind. It is beautiful and weird and terrible. The sort of thing she regularly imagines that almost certainly can't happen in real life, but now she's seen it can, and that Usagi and Chiba-san have reacted well, and maybe, just maybe, Amy's not so much of a weird little freak after all--

    "So..." Amy looks at her new friend. "Would it... hmmm... help break the ice and make you feel more comfortable, to, another time, later..." How should she word this. "You said it's awkward because you're both playing these roles you're supposed to be good at. Would it help to have a situation where you're both playing at roles you're not 'supposed' to be good at?" There is something slightly off about her expression, like she knows something Miho doesn't. "Where how bad or not you are at it is something you can both laugh at, rather than judge?"

    Amy's mind races ahead down some conversational branch or other. "Do you like singing?"

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho just looks at Amy a moment, and snerks. "Break the ice? You would say this to somebody who uses ice magics?", she teases a moment. She smirks a little bit. "As to doing things we're not good at? I don't know. Maybe? I mean, its just something that only people like us know about. I mean, his dad is this big time actor.", she tells. The woman smirks a bit.

    "Singing? I mean, I dabble a little bit. Nothing too major. I'm...not good with writing.", she admits. Miho takes a moment to go through a breathing exercise, and then sings a few lines from a recent pop song. Its clear she's got a good voice, but its not on the level as her tracks. No real emotion there yet.

    Miho finishes her food, and then gets up. She changes into the black dress. Its very form fitting, but was taliored to Miho to be very fitted. The woman then puts on the black sheer shirt. Its defintely very flirty. "I think this is a bit much for a first date thing. Its the same dress Dad had me wear to that fight. I so hate having to go to fights with this on.", she admits. "Its sooo...tight, and in the areas I really don't want it tight in.", she grumps.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy chuckles at the ice comment, but hmm. Not so much enthusiasm. Amy finds herself filling with doubt as to whether this is a good idea to suggest. Swerve around, approach from another angle. She smiles at the singing. "Do you have any interest in karaoke?"

    Amy is caught off-guard by Miho just abruptly changing in front of her like that, but. Ultimately what strikes her is that she doesn't care so much. It's been over a year, with gym class and living in a girls' dorm to get used to. It is just life. She glances away sometimes, but doesn't get flustered or make a show of turning around.

    At Miho's description, Amy nods. "Yeah. definitely do not make yourself wear uncomfortable clothes, I think." She shrugs. "It might be right for a first date for someone else... but it doesn't sound like it's right for you. I guess that's one of the outfits you texted about the other day? Did you bring the other one? Possibly with shorts option? ...Or pants option. It's Fall."

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho nods her head. She takes off the dress, and changes to the sweater. Its a bare shoulder sweater. It fits pretty well on Miho. She pulls out a skirt thats is about school uniform length. She slides it on. Miho coughs a little bit before. "Karaoke?", she asks. "I mean, I've never really gone to one.", she admits.

    This outfit seems more comfortable to Miho. She might not like skirts, but well, it feels alright. The woman moves to the bunk, and unconcious smooths the skirt out as she sits down. "I mean, I have my earbuds, and when I run, sometimes I catch myself singing while running.", she admits.

    The woman takes a moment to think about things a bit more. "Pants...Like some jeans? Well...do you think it would be too casual?", she asks. "I mean, its a first date. Then again, I have no idea what he's going to be wearing. Gah, would it be embrassing to see him show up in a suit...", she admits.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    "I've only been once..." Amy admits re: karaoke, and loses her nerve for that angle of discussion for the moment.

    Pants... Amy cocks her head to one side as she imagines the sweater with various pants. "I... don't know? The line for what's casual with girl clothes is way more... blurred? Than with guy clothes, or I don't know where it is. Like with guy clothes there's suits and then button-up shirts and slacks, and then everything else, but with girl clothes..." She taps her chin. "If slacks can count as non-casual for guys do they also count for girls? I don't know who knows this stuff! Like, where do you learn it? I'm pretty sure I didn't see a class on this offered here!" She chuckles nervously.

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho giggles a little bit. "Yeah, its definitely one of those, you have to have a feel for. Like, you can wear slacks, but as a girl, it can make you look like you're trying to look older, or trying to look professional, I think. Jeans are alright if you know what the other is wearing. If he goes like casual then jeans would be fine. I think I could put up with a skirt for a night.", Miho tells.

    "Thats why it takes so long to get an outfit together. Just constantly trying on different combinations, and thinking 'Is this it?' What if its not, oh, lets get this, and see how it looks.", Miho admits to. "I know I've done that a few times when hanging out with friends.", she tells. "Like if it was colder, then defintely would go jeans.", she tells. The woman looks at Amy a bit. "I mean, I could offer a little bit of help with that, but my sense of fashion comes form what I see on vids from clubs during sets.", she admits.

    "Do you think I should doll up a bit, and get a little bit of make up?", she asks. Miho smiles a bit as she watches Amy. "Like maybe do a spa/makeover trip right before the date?", she asks. Miho looks at her fingers...Yeah, what nails does she have? None. "I could get what nails I have painted, and maybe some blush...", she says. "No eye liner though."

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy listens curiously and attentively. She nods and smiles at the comment of trying on clothes. "Yeah. I... haven't really gotten to go shopping for clothes much, but, trying on clothes is..." she smiles, enthused, and nods. "Yeah. I never understood the point as a guy, but now... I get it. And, and I can kinda guess at some of what might look good but some I have to see, and... yeah... The stereotype of the girl taking too long to get ready because she keeps trying different outfits is unfair. Although I don't see why guys wouldn't be the same way, if they like how they look as guys..."

    She shrugs. "My sense of fashion comes from what, manga and anime and TV and whatever I see? I'm sure no expert."

    Makeup? Amy initially looks nervous, as the this-is-not-a-topic-she-should-be-anywhere-near feeling starts, but then her brain updates with no, it's valid, it's OK, only to be replaced instead by feeling out of her depth and awkward that she can't provide the expected advice or help.

    The redhead shakes her head a little. "I don't know anything about makeup or nails, I'm sorry." She hates to be a letdown, then realizes something. "Wait... you probably knew that, though! Are you messing with me?" She eyes Miho suspiciously!

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho coughs a little bit, and blushes. "Just was thinking...Maybe you could go with me. I mean, there's a few people that I can ask, but you have a unique prospective. You know nothing about it. So...if I look good, you can give a good answer. If its too much, you could be honest about it.", the woman says. She blushes a bit.

    "Besides, you could try it a little bit. I mean, I can't say too much cause I never really used make up myself. I mean, as a martial artist, make up would just run cause I'm sweating so much.", she points out. Miho takes a long moment to breath out a bit. "I'm just so nervious about everything. I have to be perfec...", Miho starts to say. She shuts up a bit, before looking away. There's a small flash of anger in her face as she stops her sentence.

    It takes a second or two before Miho settles her breathing a bit. "S-sorry. Just...My thoughts were getting away from me.", she tells.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy opens her mouth as the 'unique perspective' is mentioned, but this time Miho clarifies that what she means is Amy doesn't know fashion, doesn't know what looks are in this season, or what the popular styles for clothing or makeup are, and she closes her mouth and nods.

    Of course a martial artist doesn't wear makeup. "Makes sense." Amy agrees and nods, thinking about how anime Ranma girl-type is frequently drawn with purple (lavender? She's not sure the right word for the shade) eyeshadow. Come to think of it, La Pucelle is too. Is there a pattern there? Things to look up later, or to completely forget. For right now...

    "I... understand being a perfectionist. I had people tell me 'don't let the best be the enemy of the good' so many times when I was young. I mean, the first time." Beat. "I didn't so much as grow out of the problem, as just... never work on any big projects, after college."

    Amy taps her chin. "I'm not sure how to tell you how to judge when you're going too far, I'm not sure I know myself. But... recognizing you were kinda spiraling is a start, I think?" She smiles and gives two thumbs-up. "Good for you!"

    And then she steps forward to give Miho a brief hug before stepping back again. "He likes you. He's never even seen you dressed up." Amy looks her up and down. "You'll prrroooobably knock his socks off with anything nice at all? I don't... I'm not a good judge of that. I don't... feel that from looking at people, I guess?" She looks a bit awkward, part of her regretting she can't give Miho advice from the perspective she wants.

    "Anyway, he fell for you. Not for your outfit." She smiles.

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho nods her head a little bit. "Well, I just...To be honest, I'm a few clubs, but I don't compete cause I don't want to get back into competitions anymore.", she admits. "Simply cause I just don't have that drive anymore. Too many people not wanting to compete with me, or forfeiting before a contest.", she tells. The woman shakes her head a little bit. "Just when I feel that drive...That need that I have to be...I full stop there.", she tells.

    Miho returns the hug. "And I know. We used to talk about certain issues we had in the past. Like how my dad is, and how his dad is. Its always the third yacht.", she laughs. The woman shakes her head. "His dad is a movie star.", she tells. The woman shakes her head as she settles her thoughts. "Well, you have Hannah, thats why.", she says. "You found the one that is everything to you.", Miho says.

    "Thats how I feel about Hinote. Its like the world stops, but also speeds up when I'm with him. I'm willing to bet thats how it is for you when you're with Hannah.", she tells. Miho has never met Hannah though.

    "And you're right. Just when you never been on a date before, its the waiting. Kinda like right before a competition, you get those nerves, and that edge. Its hard to come back down until you're moving.", she admits.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy frowns at the comment that no one competes with Miho. "Why?" Distant memories briefly raise the 'are they refusing to compete against a girl' thought but then she remembers Miho is from some ancient rich family that people might be afraid would take revenge if their scion were defeated.

    "This drive... do you mean something from within? Wanting to challenge yourself and do well at something? Or to... Or is it the demand to please your family?"

    Amy mouths the words 'third yacht'. Geeze some people have too much money. How can you accumulate that much without giving it to the desperately needy, she can't imagine getting that rich because people need help...

    "I, um..." Amy blushes and smiles and looks away at the mention of Hannah. "She's great. She swept me off my feet. But neither of us sees things in terms of 'the one'. To be honest, closed relationships never made sense to me. So I don't know if that bit's the same, but..."

    She smiles more at the memories. "It's... it's not that the world stops, or speeds up. She's... she sees me as someone wonderful." Amy shakes her head. "I don't understand it. But she... she knows how to dance, she knows how to fight, she holds me tight, whatever situation we're in I know with her we'll get through alright. A-and she'll make me feel like someone worthy of being with a princess. I-it's nice."

    "...After the dance, I wanted to see her again. But also so much crazy magic stuff was happening. When I did get a moment to ask her for a date and she said yes, I didn't have anything nice to ware but my festival yukata, so, I wore that, but..."

    Amy sighs. "We didn't really get to finish the date. I felt bad for 'deceiving' her and spilled everything. She insisted I was worth loving, and that I would be her girlfriend, and..." Amy shrugs. "Honestly, without that early affirmation that someone was so very okay with this I... not only that someone was okay with this but that... someone... was okay with seeing me as a girl even though they knew, before I knew myself?" Amy shakes her head. "I dunno if I woulda... realized." She scratches her head.

    "...I guess my experience was a bit different from yours, there."

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho thinks for a second. "Drive is hard to really describe. Its...that need of wanting to push past everyone else. To demand that you're the very best of what you do.", she points out. "Kinda like how when a boxer gets knocked down, and everyone knows the other guy is better, but the boxer gets up, and hits that next level. And suddenly the fight turns. As for the not competing...I'm the daughter of a MMA fighter, and a part time Miko who learned archery from her mother, who learned from her mother, so forth. Archery is part of my mom's training, and what she taught me.", she admits.

    "So, when I use my bow, its a part of me. I can group very well with it, but others just got tired of losing to me. And people just stopped wanting to compete, since they already knew I was likely to win. I guess, thats when I started losing by just a few points. Like I would purposely tank my last shot to hit a few points below my opponent.", she admits. "The same night, I would go to the range, and hit the target for the win. Just to prove I could if I wanted.", she tells.

    "My family is pretty well grounded for what they are. We don't spend all that much on stuff that we're not gonna use. And dispite what people thought, Dad was harshest on me about my technique. If I didn't have it just right, I would have to practice until I did it right every time.", she tells.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy listens, and at 'others just get tired of losing to me', Amy nods. "Yeah, that's how it was with me and videogames and anyone I knew growing up. Then it turned out there's way better players online, and the best folks in the videogame club can kick my ass. But... I can imagine how frustrating it'd be if... everyone else in the world seems to you to be as good at archery as the kids I knew back then were good at videogames."

    She looks concerned. "Did your family ever... catch on? That you were throwing matches? ...Did your opponents?"

    She sighs. "It sounds like he's trying to make you not enjoy archery."

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho nods a little bit. "People suspect, but never really caught on too much. Just said I had issues with pressure. Like I choke when things get heated.", she tells. "I think thats why he always got a bit irked. The fact that people talked about me 'choking' under pressure. I mean, when you're somebody who goes out in your underwear to fight another person in their underwear...", she points out, teasing about how MMA fighters and their fighting outfits.

    "Either way, I just grew to the point where I just...hate to compete anymore. That I don't want the expectations or the obligations of it. Thats why when I got the letter from here to come to this school, I was kinda "Umm, what?" when I looked at it.", she points out.

    "I have average grades, I hadn't entered a compeition in a long time, and well, there was nothing that made me stand out to receive an invite.", she tells.

    "Its also one of the things that I just...Well, I have to look up to Yukihime, but also hate. She's everything that I can't be as Miho. At least thats what's expected of her."

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy listens, and gives a bit of a look at the underwear comment, especially after Sailor Moon so firmly pointed out that magical girl outfits were not underwear. "They're not underwear..." she quietly notes.

    She listens, and nods, as Miho's average, low-pressure life at Radiant Heart is discussed. "Makes sense to me. Sounds ike Radiant Heart is a vacation you sorely needed -- no, it's that too, but once you've rested you can have a life here, without that pressure."

    Amy blinks. "What do you mean you... 'look up to' yourself? I mean... you're still you, right? Or is there a split personality with the transformation?"

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho shakes her head. "No, its not a split personality. Its...well, think when you transform. You have all this power welling inside of you, begging to be released. As Yukihime, there's a grace, an elegance. There's a simple peace of just having this ability.", she tells. The woman sighs a bit. "Its hard to describe. Basically, I feel...overwhelmed with these abilities. I don't know what I'd be like if I ever had to fight something by myself. But when others are watching me, I have to be this presence of confidence, regardless of how I'm feeling internally.", she tells.

    "That there's this responsibility of having these powers. And that Yukihime can be confident in using them. I know I'm still me, but by the same token, I can't...just be me. I have to be more.", she tells.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy listens, and nods. "People are looking at you and seeing not just the scion of the Inada family; they're seeing a magical girl, a hero the like of which for most only exists in stories. And you feel you have to live up to it."

    Amy takes a breath, lets it out, sits back in her chair. Spins around in it once. "We're all just people, though."

    "Like, I get it. In my first days, it was like. Oh my gosh. I'm fighting alongside real live magical girls who have probably been doing this for years. I thought. They were. Y'know."

    "I was thinking of them as these heroes and not like. As who they were as people. And now... it's true I don't know the identity of everyone I fight alongside. But I know enough of them. They're my classmates. My friends. People like me, just... people, in crazy magical situations most people wouldn't understand, but we have eachother. And we're... comrades on the battlefield, but there isn't... it's not like there's some test you have to pass to be a real magical girl."

    "You get your mascot and your stick or sword or whatever and a cool outfit and off you go! ...I'm being a bit blithe, but really, almost no one but like. Sailor V and Tomoe-- err, I guess you haven't met them. Almost no one got magic earlier than like. A month before I did. All of this just happened, and we're figuring it out."

    Amy shakes her head. "There's no seniors, no adults who are more ready for this -- nothing could have prepared me for this, no one who completed some kind of training. It's just us."

    Amy smiles, and then looks at Miho with concern. "Would it be helpful to get to know more of us? As people and not just as heroic figures you feel pressured to keep up with on the battlefield?"

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho takes a moment to think about it. "Maybe. I mean, overall, I'm still the new girl around campus. And there's a large group of people that I network with. I mean, I met Chrono, Rashmi, you, Laura, Hinote, and a few others. But honestly, Laura is like a little sister. Hinote, we already know about that. When it comes to talks though...I usually just...I guess I kinda dump my issues at your doorstep.", she says, kinda looking down. "You seem to have the grasp of things. And well, I know Hinote enough to know that Paris did a number on him.", she tells.

    "He gave me the bare bones of that, but nothing more. I don't know too much about what happend in Paris, but I tend to leave my issues away from him, cause of that. Sorry about kinda dumping things on you.", she says.

    The mahou takes a moment to adjust herself a bit. "I guess, I kinda just hide a bit inside a shell, and havn't really gone too much out of the way to talk to others. I mean, I know about the shed, but I really don't do much more then just train nearby there when I feel the need.", Miho says. Which saddly...seems to be everyday..."But I really...don't hang out very often. There's just always some training to do, clubs to do, and well, youma to deal with all the time..."

Amanda Faust has posed:
> I guess I kinda dump my issues at your doorstep.
    Amy shrugs.

> You seem to have the grasp of things.
    Amy smiles a bit.

    And then Paris is brought up. "Paris did a number on a lot of people, I think. I--" she almost mentions that people died, and then remembers that Usagi wanted to keep the resurrections a secret.

    "We thought we were going to lose people."

    "...It's okay if you need time. And truthfully... I don't go out enough either. I have to be invited to things, and I'm glad. That in this life, I... get invited to things. And can just go be with friends as me." She smiles widely, wistfully.

    She refocuses on Miho. "Well... while I can see how it'd be a problem if everyone treated me as a confidant... so far few do. If I can help you in this way, when you don't feel ready to open up to others... then I'm glad I can do that for you."

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho nods her head a little bit. She starts to say something before there's a beep, and a text. She blinks, and shakes her head as her cheeks turn bright red. "My dorm mate just texted me to ask me if she needs to open the window for me, or am I spending the night in my boyfriend's room.", she says, blushing horribly. She eyes her phone a moment. "She's been on this big tease since I awakened.", she tells.

    "So...like when I go out as Yuki, she thinks I'm sneaking out to go meet with my boyfriend. And that I deny it too much. If I told her the truth...", Miho says, shaking her head. "So...I kinda just stick to her idea.", she says. The girl blushes a bit more, not saying too much, but well, yeah.

    "Either way, it is getting pretty late. I guess I better sneak back up to my dorm. Sorry again, Amy.", she says. Miho gets up, gathering up the outfits. "Gah, she's so going to tease the crap out of me. If something comes up, send me a text.", she says. The woman smiles a bit, and gets up. She takes a moment, and changes languages a moment.

    "Thank you, and good night.", she says in english. Its still an awkward not quite sure if she's saying it right tone, but its better then what it was awhile back...