No. I don't think there's any chance at all. But — it's not like he forgot me completely. He just doesn't remember some things I do. They're important things to me, but they wouldn't be important to everyone.
[She sighs.]
It just feels like it's one more thing the guy who killed me took away from me. It doesn't feel fair.
[There's a pause, then he holds out his other arm, in case she wants a hug. Because it feels right for that right now, honestly.]
It's not fair at all. And you can be mad as much as you want to be about it. Or as sad as you want.
[It doesn't hurt that Reimi isn't self-destructive as he is about handling this kind of thing. He could barely handle being alive again at first, and from there he almost didn't know how to process it-- and it got worse after reliving his death through the syncing machines to find out who he was compatible with.
Reimi isn't like him. She's a lot stronger. But sometimes, it helps to be reminded to be given permission to be hurt or angry; Bucciarati is the kind of guy that forgets to allow himself that. Reimi, he thinks, might be a little like that too.]
[She looks down, then back up again, then thinks — and then steps into the hug he's inviting her to accept, cheek pressed against his chest.]
Except that I don't really want to, either. I'm so tired of feeling lonely. That's why I thought, maybe I could just distract myself for a while, so I don't have to think about it.
[With his free arm, he loops it around Reimi's shoulders, as if somehow he's going to successfully protect her from anything. He can't chase away her hurt, or take it back -- but hell if he isn't going to try to support her.]
Then we're gonna do that. Go shopping, go wild. Get you some nice clothes, make up if you want.
And hey, if you still feel like crying after, that's fine. Or if you feel like punching something, we can do something about that too.
...Not punching an actual guy, probably, but I'm sure we could find one.
Black and dark-dark-purple aren't really what I'd call a variety!
[Abbacchio is so great. He's mean, but he's always mean at other people and not at her, which is kind of selfish to like, but it's not going to stop her from liking it. It makes her the exception, which makes her special, and opportunities to feel special have been few and far between for a long time.]
Actually...that might be kind of fun. Working out, I mean. It'd help me get stronger while I did it, and there's some stuff I want to try that I'll need to be strong to do, anyway.
I think we should swap someday. I'll wear all your black and purple clothes, and you can wear my pink lip gloss and nail polish!
[She can't keep her giggles back at the thought; within seconds, they go from giggling to full-blown laughter, fueled on by her pent-up sadness. Laughing is a much more palatable release than crying, she finds, and Abbacchio makes it so easy.
Still, after a little while she sobers, and once she's had a chance to think seriously about his offer, she answers tentatively.]
To teach me that kind of thing — you'd have to grab me, right? The way that somebody trying to hurt me would?
Only if we pretended that everything was normal so everyone else gets confused as hell.
[It's good, seeing her laugh. It feels like he's doing something right by her. He knows he isn't always the easiest to get along with, or even a particularly good friend to start with, but he wants to try to be better. For her, and the rest of the gang.]
...Yeah. I would.
Would that be too much?
[He wouldn't want to remind her of the worst night of her life, after all.]
[in before she decides she actually looks kind of good in goth makeup and goes through a brief and fleeting Hot Topic phase]
Yeah. Even when we sent that monster to hell, Arnold's the one who attacked him. That was our plan, though. We used me as the bait because we were both pretty sure he would forget about Arnold.
[But still, that's another instance where she didn't actually defend herself without relying on someone else to help do it for her. It wouldn't be so bad, maybe, to know some things.]
You know, you said "me or someone else" earlier. Who's "someone else"? Are you already picking out my next boyfriend, huh?
It wasn't a bad idea. But it still couldn't hurt to know a couple of things.
[Maybe get her some pepper spray too. He's PLOTTING.]
Oh. [Well, he was thinking about Moody Blues, but she isn't a Stand user so he doesn't even bother trying to explain that one.] Nah. I just figured I wasn't the only one who wanted to make sure you were safe.
Yeah. Better to know and not need it, right? So I think it's a good idea, too.
[She grins, then squeezes him tight. The Chroma just keeps ringing up and she's not even thinking about her bank account right now.]
I think you're probably right about that. I wouldn't really want to rely on a boyfriend, anyway. I think girls should be able to stand up for themselves, not just get people to do it for them. Well, if they can help it, I mean.
[He teases, but he's glad she's agreed to it. At her own pace, but he does want to help. And honestly, it's occurred to him that anyone can show up here. Anyone. Better to be safe as much as they can be.]
Hey, c'mon. We got some shopping to do. Gotta get you to go wild on things you're trying on.
[She doesn't mean a word of it. It's just the rhythm of their teasing, bouncing back and forth; there's a positive energy to it that's lifting her mood, and she doesn't want to let go of it too soon.]
You have to tell me what girls are wearing in the future now. Is it all cropped tops and fishnet tights?
[And he doesn't mean it either. He likes this, their teasing. Even if he's afraid of fucking up their friendship, he's glad to have her.]
There was this girl I was helping to look after that wore a crop top and a skirt that split down at the hip. Wore boots, too.
[Actually, he thinks that Reimi and Trish would have gotten along well. He wonders, idly, if he'd have ended up as protective of her as he is of Reimi. Maybe, with how much things have changed.
Amazing what one week does. Amazing what a month does.]
[She sticks her tongue out at him, a quintessential teenage girl, then laughs and moves to take his hand so that she can tug him along toward the shops.]
I like boots a lot, they hurt my feet way less than those sandals. After a while the straps start to cut into your skin, you know?
[# girl fashion problems]
Mmm...I don't think I'm ready for a crop top yet, though. Or a skirt with a slit that high. Some of the girls used to roll up their uniform skirts to make them shorter, at school, but I never did. ...Well, I did once, but that's just because I was trying to impress somebody.
Oh, like you never did something dumb just to impress somebody you liked! Come on, you never showed off or acted a certain way just to get someone to notice you?
[She leads the way eagerly, alternating half between tugging him along and half between facing him while walking sideways-backward to do it, as they head toward Prissy Polyp, which is already attracting a lot of business thanks to their new clothing line and their killer doorbuster deals.]
Yeah, and then I realized I shouldn't do shit like that.
[no he will absolutely still do things if it makes bruno happy shut up
But it's nice, watching her be happy. Happier than she was. This girl really was given the short end of the stick in terms of life, but she's dealing with it anyway. She really is strong.]
Don't worry! There's no chance of it until I start going to school again, Abbacchio!
[It's subtle, but there's one piece of that sentence that's vital: until. School, now, isn't an "if" anymore; it's a "when".]
Ummm...you know what I really want? Pants! I haven't had a pair of jeans or anything in so long, I've forgotten what it feels like to wear things with legs!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[She sighs.]
It just feels like it's one more thing the guy who killed me took away from me. It doesn't feel fair.
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[There's a pause, then he holds out his other arm, in case she wants a hug. Because it feels right for that right now, honestly.]
It's not fair at all. And you can be mad as much as you want to be about it. Or as sad as you want.
[It doesn't hurt that Reimi isn't self-destructive as he is about handling this kind of thing. He could barely handle being alive again at first, and from there he almost didn't know how to process it-- and it got worse after reliving his death through the syncing machines to find out who he was compatible with.
Reimi isn't like him. She's a lot stronger. But sometimes, it helps to be reminded to be given permission to be hurt or angry; Bucciarati is the kind of guy that forgets to allow himself that. Reimi, he thinks, might be a little like that too.]
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[She looks down, then back up again, then thinks — and then steps into the hug he's inviting her to accept, cheek pressed against his chest.]
Except that I don't really want to, either. I'm so tired of feeling lonely. That's why I thought, maybe I could just distract myself for a while, so I don't have to think about it.
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Then we're gonna do that. Go shopping, go wild. Get you some nice clothes, make up if you want.
And hey, if you still feel like crying after, that's fine. Or if you feel like punching something, we can do something about that too.
...Not punching an actual guy, probably, but I'm sure we could find one.
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[It's a weaker attempt at humor, but at least she's trying, even as she settles against him and soaks in the sensation. Public venue be damned.]
You know, I don't think I've ever punched anybody before. Definitely not an actual guy.
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[Engaging in physical affection like this is still a little bizarre, but it seems to be doing her some good. So, no regrets at all.]
It's pretty satisfying. Y'know, when they deserve it.
But there are punching bags too. Basically, what I'm saying is that working out can get some of that stress out.
[And despite his bad habits, that's one of his better ones.]
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[Abbacchio is so great. He's mean, but he's always mean at other people and not at her, which is kind of selfish to like, but it's not going to stop her from liking it. It makes her the exception, which makes her special, and opportunities to feel special have been few and far between for a long time.]
Actually...that might be kind of fun. Working out, I mean. It'd help me get stronger while I did it, and there's some stuff I want to try that I'll need to be strong to do, anyway.
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[It's true, Abbacchio is only really nice to like three people. And in his eyes, Reimi absolutely deserves what little kindness he has.]
I can show you where I go, and... well. I was thinking, actually. If you wanted, I could show you some basic stuff you can do to defend yourself.
I like to think that me or someone else is gonna be around to protect you, but that's not always going to be the case.
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[She can't keep her giggles back at the thought; within seconds, they go from giggling to full-blown laughter, fueled on by her pent-up sadness. Laughing is a much more palatable release than crying, she finds, and Abbacchio makes it so easy.
Still, after a little while she sobers, and once she's had a chance to think seriously about his offer, she answers tentatively.]
To teach me that kind of thing — you'd have to grab me, right? The way that somebody trying to hurt me would?
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[It's good, seeing her laugh. It feels like he's doing something right by her. He knows he isn't always the easiest to get along with, or even a particularly good friend to start with, but he wants to try to be better. For her, and the rest of the gang.]
...Yeah. I would.
Would that be too much?
[He wouldn't want to remind her of the worst night of her life, after all.]
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[One of these palette switches will be a lot more forgiving on the person wearing it than the other, and that's what's hilarious about it.]
Mm. I...don't think so? But it might. So I guess it's probably better if you know it might, in advance. Err on the side of caution, right...?
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[He is absolutely down for fucking with people.]
That's fair. And we can take our time about it.
Just... you know. I want you to be able to take care of yourself.
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Yeah. Even when we sent that monster to hell, Arnold's the one who attacked him. That was our plan, though. We used me as the bait because we were both pretty sure he would forget about Arnold.
[But still, that's another instance where she didn't actually defend herself without relying on someone else to help do it for her. It wouldn't be so bad, maybe, to know some things.]
You know, you said "me or someone else" earlier. Who's "someone else"? Are you already picking out my next boyfriend, huh?
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[Maybe get her some pepper spray too. He's PLOTTING.]
Oh. [Well, he was thinking about Moody Blues, but she isn't a Stand user so he doesn't even bother trying to explain that one.] Nah. I just figured I wasn't the only one who wanted to make sure you were safe.
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[She grins, then squeezes him tight. The Chroma just keeps ringing up and she's not even thinking about her bank account right now.]
I think you're probably right about that. I wouldn't really want to rely on a boyfriend, anyway. I think girls should be able to stand up for themselves, not just get people to do it for them. Well, if they can help it, I mean.
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[He teases, but he's glad she's agreed to it. At her own pace, but he does want to help. And honestly, it's occurred to him that anyone can show up here. Anyone. Better to be safe as much as they can be.]
Hey, c'mon. We got some shopping to do. Gotta get you to go wild on things you're trying on.
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[She doesn't mean a word of it. It's just the rhythm of their teasing, bouncing back and forth; there's a positive energy to it that's lifting her mood, and she doesn't want to let go of it too soon.]
You have to tell me what girls are wearing in the future now. Is it all cropped tops and fishnet tights?
[AND SWEATERS, LIKE THE ONE HE IS WEARING]
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[And he doesn't mean it either. He likes this, their teasing. Even if he's afraid of fucking up their friendship, he's glad to have her.]
There was this girl I was helping to look after that wore a crop top and a skirt that split down at the hip. Wore boots, too.
[Actually, he thinks that Reimi and Trish would have gotten along well. He wonders, idly, if he'd have ended up as protective of her as he is of Reimi. Maybe, with how much things have changed.
Amazing what one week does. Amazing what a month does.]
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[She sticks her tongue out at him, a quintessential teenage girl, then laughs and moves to take his hand so that she can tug him along toward the shops.]
I like boots a lot, they hurt my feet way less than those sandals. After a while the straps start to cut into your skin, you know?
[# girl fashion problems]
Mmm...I don't think I'm ready for a crop top yet, though. Or a skirt with a slit that high. Some of the girls used to roll up their uniform skirts to make them shorter, at school, but I never did. ...Well, I did once, but that's just because I was trying to impress somebody.
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The fashion industry is a pain in the ass, finding anything you like that doesn't just fucking hurt or rip or something.
[Look he's not above trying on some women's clothing. Sometimes it's just more to his taste, and he will destroy anyone who questions him.]
Ugh, don't do it to impress anyone. Just do shit for yourself first. All right?
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[She leads the way eagerly, alternating half between tugging him along and half between facing him while walking sideways-backward to do it, as they head toward Prissy Polyp, which is already attracting a lot of business thanks to their new clothing line and their killer doorbuster deals.]
Hey, look up there! Fifty percent off!
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[no he will absolutely still do things if it makes bruno happy shut up
But it's nice, watching her be happy. Happier than she was. This girl really was given the short end of the stick in terms of life, but she's dealing with it anyway. She really is strong.]
Huh. Guess we better have a look. [SALE.]
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[REIMI.]
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All right, well, if it's for the cutest boy in school. But right now you gotta do this shit for yourself.
C'mon. What're you thinking first? Shoes, dresses, what?
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[It's subtle, but there's one piece of that sentence that's vital: until. School, now, isn't an "if" anymore; it's a "when".]
Ummm...you know what I really want? Pants! I haven't had a pair of jeans or anything in so long, I've forgotten what it feels like to wear things with legs!
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