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[songstressedout]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, SongDiva. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.07.154.55 *** SongDiva has joined 018.07.154.55 <SongDiva> Hello? Is this thing on...? <SongDiva> Oh! Good! It's working! <SongDiva> These computers are... strange, but it looks like I managed to get it working alright! I'll uh, try to get back to you as soon as possible if you say anything here!

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[meowbel]

[As Mabel looked at Yuzu, she leaned in a little before pointing toward the bathroom]

Ehhhh on second thought? Maybe we better have you cleaned up first. I think you could use a little make over before we head outside.

[Again, she didn't want to get any closer to Yuzu but she could offer a few suggestions] I'd say we put your hair in a ponytail and add some flowers to it! I think you'll look cute!

[songstressedout]

A make over?

[ Well that's sudden... a make over? She's not opposed to the idea, but the ideas are a little new to her. Maybe it's because one of her counterparts wore their hair in a single ponytail, but Yuzu had never been able to imagine herself with that kind of hairstyle. ]

If you say so... though I don't have any flowers or anything like that.

[ In any case, she makes her way to the bathroom. She can't expect Mabel to do more than provide suggestions, considering the fear she knows Mabel has of her... but she can try. So, she starts to work on her hair. ]

[isawallflower]

[ If it's not the arms... Well, Riley's going to look closer. The phrase mother hen comes to mind. ]

What? Oh, no, I was fine. [ And for once, she actually means it. ] No one hurt me, I...mostly kept out of sight.

You... Did that man hurt you?

[songstressedout]

[ Yuzu's breath catches and she suddenly looks down. ]

My... the black parts of my arms don't feel pain if something pierces them. But one time, his aim was a little off...

[ It's probably for the best that Riley wasn't there to see that. In any case, that doesn't explain the extensive bandaging. ]

M-Most of this came after, though...

[isawallflower]

[ I should've stabbed him. I should've just gone for it. I should've fucking stabbed that bastard's fucking jugular—

For once? Riley finds herself not disagreeing with the twisted voice that hisses in her ears. Riley finds herself regretting that she didn't do that herself. ]

That disgusting... [ One hand curls to a fist, but the other is hovering, above Yuzu's head, as if she's just a step away from pulling her aside and looking for any wounds she might've missed. ]

After...? You mean after those jerks dragged me away? What did they do to you...?

[songstressedout]

[ Well... Riley may not have to worry about that. ]

Oh, no I mean... when everything went crazy and we all got set free...

[ She doesn't realize it, but her eyes are watering. ]

It's... it's not what they did to me... it's what I did to them...

[isawallflower]

What...?

[ Riley doesn't need to ask that question. She saw MacCready. She saw Giorno. She hears her own insistent, creative thoughts.

She doesn't need to ask. ]

You...lashed out at them. Didn't you.

[meowbel]

[As Mabel stared at her from a distance in the bathroom, all she could do was look at her before giving a small pout. So far, Yuzu looked like she was taking her suggestion seriously.

The moment she saw her in that ponytail?]

Then we'll find some on the ground because I'd say you look perfect! And I bet it would even make a certain boy happy to see you...!

[songstressedout]

[ Yuzu's breath stops for a moment, and for a moment, one could swear that the blackened parts of her arms got wispier. ]

I just... I was set free and then I saw them...

[ She trembles a bit. ]

Something just asked me what I wanted to do to them... and suddenly my arms were longer and sharper and...

[ Talking about this was hurting. She thought she could keep herself together but the guilt is tightening around her neck like a noose again. She still remembers how easy and satisfying it was when her arms changed into claws that cut easily through the people who hurt her. ]

[songstressedout]

[ At that, Yuzu suddenly stumbled in the bathroom. ]

W-What boy!?

[ Her face was red, but she realized suddenly that her voice was raised and quickly receded back into tying her hair up. ]

[meowbel]

You know. That boy.

[Oh good, Mabel managed to get a reaction out of her that wasn't sad! That's a start!]

A certain boy with green and red hair?

[songstressedout]

[ Oh god she knows exactly who Mabel is talking about. ]

W-Why would h-he be happy a-about that w-we're just friends and I mean sure he's really important tomebutthatdoesn'tproveanything—

[ She's suddenly trying to hide her face. ]

[isawallflower]

[ Riley doesn't need to wonder why it feels like she's listening to this from far away. She doesn't need to be curious about why she feels suddenly lightheaded. She swallows down a lump in her throat. ]

You were...affected by whatever was... Whatever everyone else was.

[ A wavering tone to her voice. This isn't... This isn't the place to talk about this. Riley goes to take Yuzu's arm, gently. ]

Is there, um...anywhere you like to be in the city? Anywhere...comforting?

[meowbel]

Uh-huh.

[She said with a look] And obviously friends talk about other friends like that, shouldn't they?

[songstressedout]

D-Definitely!

[ No they don't.

In any case, she grabs one of the hairclips that she usually uses to tie her hair into a pigtail and instead puts her hair up in a ponytail like Mabel suggested. She comes out of the bathroom looking embarrassed.

It does look cute. ]

[songstressedout]

I... I don't...

[ There wasn't exactly anywhere she considered comforting in this city. ]

I don't know... it feels crowded everywhere I go...

[meowbel]

[The moment Mabel saw her friend up in a ponytail? She couldn't help but gasp at the sight]

Well, look at you, Ms. Yuzu! Don't you look cute and adorable with your hair up? I don't think he'll be able to take his eyes off of you if I say so myself!

[songstressedout]

[ Her face flushes further. It already feels... strange to be wearing a hairstyle so close to the hairstyle used by a certain girl with the same face as her, but Mabel's words make her feel incredibly bashful. ]

I-I wouldn't say that...

[meowbel]

And why not? Have some more confidence in yourself, I think you look great!

[She said before leaning in closer with a small smirk]

[songstressedout]

T-That's not...

[ Well, she's just embarassed. The thought of Yuya seeing her with his hairstyle alone is enough to make her blush. ]

Y-You said you wanted to take me somewhere, right?

[isawallflower]

[ Well, that's... ]

What about... Do you know of anywhere people don't go? Somewhere quiet?

[songstressedout]

I...

[ There wasn't a lot of places as far as she knew in Bavan, besides the top of buildings (that she was at one point carried up to by a friend when her changes started hurting in the middle of the sidewalk and she was taking up space in the crowd. ]

Does a roof work...?

[isawallflower]

[ With a determined little nod, Riley starts leading Yuzu through the city streets. ]

Come with me.

[ Not like she's giving her much of a choice... They're closer to Hestia's Place than far from it, so that's her go-to, as...it's the only place she really has access. ]

[meowbel]

Yup! We need to figure out what you're going to eat!

[She said before giving her hand out]

Let's go shopping and see what kind of stuff they got around here!

[songstressedout]

E-Eh? Um, okay...

[ Well, it's not like she doesn't trust Riley, so she lets her lead Yuzu to wherever she wants to take her. ]