opens up the soul (open)

[WR Harthe]

WR wandered about the marketplace in their usual wear, clad in black and red and puffed up by the signature bomber they held so close. As usual, they showed no skin from the neck down, aside from the openings in their fingerless gloves. 

It wasn't often WR went shopping (because they're an asshole and steal shit with no regard for the economy), but today was one of those days where they felt like surrounding themself with goods of all trades, whether they intended to buy/steal or not. Despite generally being such an introvert, the presence of other people in shopping districts was such a comforting feeling for them, even with the overall paranoia and trust issues they felt being vulnerable in a public area...but they would be fine. Probably.

And so, WR wandered to one of the more artistic spots of the shopping center. Having scouted a small hole-in-the-wall type music store, they stared the back wall up and down, jaw dropped at the many, many, many beautiful guitars on display. These...were unstealable. They kicked a foot up in defeat, but continued to stare at their glamour. 

[Adelaide]

Adelaide had been feeling down after realizing she didn't exist in the Meta's world and was having a strange sense of trying to find out if she was the mistake, or if her doppelganger was... One of them wasn't meant to exist... which one? She shook her head clear of these thoughts and the ever encroaching existential crisis. No, today was meant to take her mind off all of that by visiting her favorite shop. A small music shop with some beautiful Guitars and accessories! She would make it to the back and look at the wall of guitars, immediately at ease... The smells of the wood, oil, and metal of the guitars fill her nose. It was a soothing sensation. She was immediately in a better place.

[Shiloh]

Shiloh followed Adelaide to the wall of guitars, a brilliant smile across her face. She didn't want to leave the girl alone after their conversation in her room, and this was the perfect way to cheer her up! She was humming to herself softly. She didn't know much about music, but she didn't want to interrupt her friend's looking. She reached out randomly to brush her fingers along Adelaide's, but other than that, she remained her usual quiet, shadow self.

[WR Harthe]

WR's guitar-gazing would be rudely interrupted by a lone cart that just so happened to creep in front of them while they were trapped in awe (which definitely isn't a fancy way of saying WR is an idiot and wasn't paying attention), and thusly, as they started to move again, they would trip into the rack and hit their head on the shelf, completely collapsing everything on it inwardly as they vanished into the mountain of music related merchandise (fortunately, none of it was broken).

"FUCK!!" They would shout, briefly falling silent before popping their head out and shaking it roughly. "Who the hell put that there I'mma beat some ass." They'd grumble across the store, half humored and half irritated. While they had every opportunity to just stand up and clean their mess, they sat in the midst of it for just a little while while they stared ahead.

[Adelaide]

Adelaide would turn towards the disturbance that was throwing off her groove.

"Yeah, I think the store did. Like... a decade ago when they opened."

She would pipe up when the noisy person couldn't even be bothered to admit their mistake.

[Shiloh]

Shiloh jumped as the merchandise all went falling, and hurried over as soon as WR's head popped up from the mess. She was smiling, her usual brilliant, beautiful smile, and her emerald eyes were gleaming with some strange mix of amusement and concern.

"Are you okay?" she asked, reaching out a hand to help the stranger up.

[WR Harthe]

WR would cut their eyes at the edgy one as she made her comment, sparks starting to fly out of their hair. It would temporarily glow orange and singe what clothes happened to fall into WR’s mess. Two sparks would fly at Shiloh as she approached. They clenched their fists under the rubble and grit their teeth.

No. Calm down. Don’t be irrational. She’s right. ...Cute too.

And with that, WR would shake their head again, and their hair would return to its normal charcoal black with red streaks.

They would then turn their attention toward cat eyes and latch onto her arm as they kicked themself to their feet.

“Thanks. Sorry ‘bout that.”

[Adelaide]

Adelaide just rolled her eyes. There went Shiloh saving the world again. Adelaide knew one thing for sure, if this one tried hurting Shiloh, they would pay dearly.

[Shiloh]

Shiloh didn't seem to mind the sparks that flew, or the strange aggression that this person had. Of course she was protective of Adelaide, but she wanted to make sure this person was alright first. She helped them to their feet, and then helped to dust them off a bit.

"Oh, don't apologize. It's okay! Are you alright, though? You're not hurt, are you?"

[WR Harthe]

The tiny (but not midget =.=) person that emerged from the merch mountain would dust themself off and fluff out their bomber before returning cat eyes' questions. It would take them a moment to adjust everything back to how it was.

"Nah, I'm fine. I'm just an idiot is all," They'd chuckle that last bit and extend a hand for a shake. They weren't usually one for handshakes, but one seemed appropriate now. They felt kind of bad for attracting this much attention over their own stupidity, especially since edgy in the distance seemed to loathe this interaction, while cat eyes was just a neighborhood cinnamon bun.

If Shiloh would return their shake, they would say, "WR, and you?" if not, then creating this thread would have been a total bust.

[Adelaide]

"Her name is Shiloh, I'm Adelaide, and we enjoy not attempting to destroy store merchandise and yell obscenities at innocent individuals."

Then she would turn to Shiloh.

"You can see that they are fine, now lets not bother ourselves with such a crass individual."

She would say grumpily.

[Shiloh]

Shiloh gladly took the stranger's hand, shaking it with enthusiasm. She opened her mouth to say something, but Adelaide responded first, and she chuckled softly at her comment.

She looked over her shoulder at her best friend and smiled kindly at her before turning her attention back to WR.

"It's okay, Adel. And, you're not an idiot. Everybody makes silly mistakes, sometimes. I'm a total klutz, sometimes! Huh, Adel?"

[WR Harthe]

WR would cut their eyes again. Rude comment from the edgy rocker girl? How fucking original.

They would shake their head again. It was taking a LOT of restraint to not just light this place up, but fortunately with an idea of how the rest of this exchange was going to go, they felt like they were better prepared to deal with it. Besides, these people did nothing wrong, and most of their anger was pent up from MONTHS of stress.

Shiloh was cheery, thoughtful, very optimistic. She almost reminded them of their late sister, Sylvye. The thought stung. Adelaide on the other hand reminded them of a younger... well, them. Another sting. What were the fucking odds?

Finally, after several moments of inner confliction, they would address Shiloh's comment.

"Yeah, no worries. Thanks for checking on me though. Can I treat ya guys to lunch or somethin'?"

They expected an immediate no from Adelaide and an absolutely from Shiloh. WR had them pretty well figured out already.

[Adelaide]

"Tch."

And a fold of her arms was all WR would get in response from Adelaide. She wanted to refuse, but knew that Shiloh wouldn't let that happen.

[Shiloh]

Shiloh chuckled and stepped back, reaching a hand out to brush her fingers across Adelaide's shoulder. It was obviously a habit, something she did without putting much thought into it, and her attention remained focused mostly on WR.

"You don't have to TREAT us to lunch, but we can definitely all go to lunch together! There are some delicious places right around here, if you'd like." She looked back at Adel, and she offered her what she hoped would be a comforting smile. "How about that awesome Italian place?"