russian intensifies

[constellates]

[When you wake up on this fine morning and check your Retrospec feed, you'll find... Russian spam? It begins - ]

Доброе утро. Меня зовут Аня. [ - and it continues on from there, resulting in a full paragraph.

For anyone who can read Cyrillic, they'll find the following message: Good morning. My name is Anya. Is anyone able to understand this? I recognize it as Cyrillic, as Russian, however I don't recall ever being able to speak this language. I woke up and suddenly it's all I knew. If the people on here remember horses, maybe they remember me speaking differently? Properly? Maybe? Please let me know.

In an entirely separate text, she tries again. In two more languages.]

おはようございます。私の名前はAnyaです。わかりますか？これは日本語です。でも昨日でAnyaは日本語を話しません。

[ - and that also goes on. An English message, with the same approximate fluency level as the Japanese, to explain the whole situation is finally provided at the end. Third try's the charm?]

good morning. my name is anya. i am sorry to try again but i am confused. today i know how to speak russian and japanese. the russian is easy but the japanese is harder. english is also harder now. even though yesterday i only spoke english?

??? why?

if the people here remember horses do they remember the anya that did not know russian? please help. please. thank you.

[ ACTION ]

[ a: авария

Normally Anya is full of life. There's a skip in her step, there's a smile on her face, there's a whole-hearted willingness to tackle the day and everything that it brings her. It was easy to call Anya cheerful and friendly.

That doesn't appear to be the case anymore.

She avoids her friends. She ducks her head and doesn't make eye contact at school. She doesn't open her mouth to speak once, brows furrowed and lips pressed into a thin line.

Yet with her head bowed as it is, it's hard to steer clear of others, isn't it? Which is why she bumps into you - somewhere. She still wanders, even if she isn't at her best. Whether it's at school, at the dance studio, wandering around the city, she seems to have accidentally run right into you.

Startled, she exclaims in smooth Russian:]

Извините! [Then her eyes widen and she seems to pause, having to take a sincere moment to recall the words she's looking for. Even now, a distinct Russian accent colors her words.] Ah, um... I'm sorry...

[There's no helping the sad, defeated look on her face - but Anya is still a very gentle girl. Even though she wants to be by herself, she finds herself looking up to whoever she ran into uncertainly.]

Are you okay...?

[ b: секрет

Distracted as she is, Anya isn't really noticing any of the secrets that are posted around today - or her own. So there's a neat little sign posted on her back, whether it's detailing something small like:]

i ) Anastasia sometimes sneaks out to climb the rooftop of her house even though her mother has told her not to.
ii ) Anastasia used to be a cheerleader.

[Or something a little bit more telling like:]

iii ) Anastasia doesn't like to be left alone.
iv ) Anastasia is too scared to be an idol anymore.

[ ooc: anya's regain was her canon language tick! an example can be found here! complete with sprinkles of Russian and accent. an additional note is that if you hover over the different alphabets, the exact translation should come up! AND FINALLY, Anya's hair used to be the lightest shade of the blonde in the world - and now it's gone full silver, but that's the least of her problems.]

Comments

[sharplydressed]

What kinda question is that, huh? I'd still wanna talk to you even if I couldn't understand anything you said.

[His expression is a little miffed, but it's not directed at Anya herself so much as the fact that she'd think this at all... Did someone else give her reason to believe it?? He'll find them and bEAT THEM UP BEHIND THE BLEACHERS.

But anyway, he'll turn and gesture for her to follow along.]

It's just this way. You can talk about as much as you want once we get there, okay?

[constellates]

[why is kashuu honestly the best ever

Still she seems vaguely placated by his irritation on her behalf, even though she's just giving a weak, sheepish smile. Even if he says that... she wonders if he's being nice? Ah, no, she can't start to believe that sort of thing about people.

(But the fear lingers.)]

Mm... I will... пытаться? Ah... try.

[sharplydressed]

[look sometimes you just gotta beat up your problems

That said, he'll make sure to check the room first to ensure its emptiness before pushing the door open all the way, inviting Anya inside.]

You can sit wherever you want. Uh, I guess we have snacks too, if you're hungry?

[Mostly this area just seems like the designer's equivalent of an Artist Meeting Area. Instead of paints and brushes strewn about, it's bolts of fabric and cutting shears. There are probably also some stray pins around the place, so it's good they're both wearing shoes... DANGERZONE.]

[constellates]

[TRULY THE DANGERZONE.

But Anya is just quiet as she takes it all in, looking around and looking to find a place where she can sit and keep herself out of the way as Kashuu does his work. Even though, she hums softly.]

Нет... Um. No, I am not hungry now. [followed by a little nod] But thank you...

[and then she pauses, before actually starting to talk about what the whole thing is and]

I... I want to... разъяснять? [It's said softly before she amends.] Tell you? But I am embarrassed... I know that I sound different. Finding words is not as easy. Прости... I am sorry that my English is not good now.

[sharplydressed]

[For now, there's no work for him to do - or rather, even though there is, he wants to give his full attention to Anya. So he'll just pull up a chair next to wherever she's sat, perching on the edge and listening and watching carefully as she talks.]

You don't need to apologize about that, first of all.

[Or be embarrassed, but he knows embarrassment isn't really a thing people can control.]

That's, like - Russian, right? [Which he knows literally nothing of, WHOOPS.] D'you think you can explain what happened? Or try? Take all the time you need, okay? You don't have to be embarrassed in front of me, at least.

[constellates]

[No need to apologize.... She offers a weak little smile that disappears as soon as it comes - she appreciates the effort. Even as she clasps her hands together and her gaze falls again.]

ничего... Um. I do not know what I can explain? This утро... Ah, morning? When I woke, it was like this.

[She speaks in Russian entirely:] Now I can say whatever I want in Russian.

[A switch to Japanese - accented, but she seems to know what she's saying:] Japanese too. Mama did not teach me this?

[And then to translate in English:] Anya is... [trilingual, but she can't remember the word] Can speak three languages now.

But my English is... not as good.

[sharplydressed]

[Here, Kashuu shifts to Japanese briefly. Even though he stubbornly refuses to speak it at home with Yamato because HE'S A BUTTHEAD, he still knows how, so:]

Is this any easier for you?

[And then, back to English:]

I don't really understand Russian, so I can't talk to you that way... [There's a note of apology in his voice because this is A PROBLEM. Time to get a basic Russian phrases handbook.]

It's weird that you'd wake up with a whole new language, but forgetting English, too?

[constellates]

[A blink at Kashuu's use of Japanese before she ends up pulling at her hair a little self-consciously and shaking her head.]

It is okay. Ah... Редкий? It is... not common here.

Japanese and English are the same level of difficult. Um. As if I... иностранный язык? Ah - learned them later?

[she struggles for a moment, trying to think up the phrase. eventually she manages it, holding up two fingers]

Second language, maybe? [ . . . and lifts another finger] And... third?

[sharplydressed]

Mm... [Well, there goes his grand idea about trying to help her out. (He also notes that her hair is a lovely shade of TOTALLY ABNORMAL SILVER today, but assumes foolishly that it's just something for a model stint, maybe.)

More important things to focus on for now, anyway!! Like the fact that this newfound trilingual tomfoolery is obviously making Anya's life more difficult.]

That'd make sense for the fluency, but it still makes no actual sense. [She spoke English just fine 24 hours ago, what the heck!!] ...Okay, this is gonna sound totally paranoid-crazy, but. D'you think it has something to do with that app again?

[constellates]

[Well.

If she's going to be honest.]

авось? People are... изменение? Going through changes? Like... Eyes. Or maybe getting items.

[She'll actually be the one to point it out as she plays with the ends of her hair in thought now.]

Anya's hair is silver now? That is new...

[sharplydressed]

Eh— Seriously? Hair, too?

[The eyes he knew about, since he's bumped into both Dave and Nobu and they're struggling in the Anime Red Eye Club™ a good week or so before he joins, himself... But hair??]

I figured you'd just dyed it or something. You just woke up and it was like that?

["THAT IS NEW" IS RIGHT.]

[constellates]

[Yep. Hair too.

Anya's going to nod her head at that - and given that Kashuu doesn't seem to be judging her for her language, she finds herself letting it flow more easily. Less disappointed and saddened looks when she lets a Russian word fly first.]

Да! Yes - no salon or haircut. Mm, it is very odd...

[and honestly she hasn't really been thinking about this all day but since it's Kashuu and she figures she might as well ask her Fashion Grandpa]

Is it... Уродливый? Does it look bad...?

[sharplydressed]

[He can probably tell as she eases up a little, but being who he is, he won't acknowledge it. Best not to draw attention to things, either negative or positive, if it's bothering her...

BUT FASHION GRANDPA IS HERE. He reaches out to touch the ends of a lock of hair, like he wants to confirm it's Really Real.]

The color is nice, don't get me wrong! You look like some kinda snow princess or something, between your hair and eyes. It suits you really well. [who the fuck even is kashuu kiyomitsu]

But it's still not... like. Natural? Normal? None of this is. [And then, in a surprising bout of being straightforward:] I'm pretty worried.

[constellates]

[Oh.

Yeah, Anya just leans forward to let him touch her hair if she wants. Why not. It's definitely Really Real. Just as well taken care of Anya's hair as usual, just... a glistening silver.]

"Snow princess"... [At least that manages to get her to smile.] хвалить... Mm. No. Maybe... Flattery?

[but she's amused.]

I... am worried. [because her entire brain got rewired??? so uh.] But... ah, everyone has been kind? So I hope it will be okay.

[sharplydressed]

[THIS IS SURREAL. ...But her hair is really pretty and honestly he has half a mind to ask if he can style it for her.]

It's not flattery if it's true.

[Says no one but him.

ANYWAY...]

I'm sure it will be! If anyone gives you any trouble, just let me know, okay? I'll set Yasusada on 'em. [He's not an attack dog?!] And we'll figure out what happened here, too. It's not like something this big can be swept under the rug forever, yeah?

[Except they have been living a whole month with chocobos.......]

[constellates]

[Do it, Kashuu. She'd let you.]

беда...? If there is trouble, I will let you know. [A brief little smile and she shakes her head. It's nice to be reassured like this, though she'll admit some of her own concerns still linger.] Mm.. If it is Постоянный... Ah. If it stays? I do not know what I will do...

[and she frowns a little bit]

I do not have all the words I want. To tell people the things that I feel.

It is...

[lonely? sad? difficult?

she can't quite find the right word to express her feelings so she just settles for shaking her head sadly, proving her point a little]

[sharplydressed]

[HE MIGHT JUST ASK...

After he's done trying to puzzle out how to deal with This. All of This. Not knowing how to help Anya out is pretty frustrating, but it's not like he's one to give up easily, either.]

Hard, right?

[Which is a simple word that could stand in for everything she's lacking more complex words for.]

Well... Even if you don't remember everything now, you can still learn it again. Like, worst case scenario, obviously - but we're not gonna just leave you struggling like this, y'know? I'll help if you want, with practice or whatever. You can teach me a little Russian, too.

[constellates]

[That is a simple word. Anya nods a little bit but looks surprised at the offer - ]

You would practice and speak Russian with Anya? [Really? She's amazed, blinking in confusion.] Да...! If you want to learn - I will teach.

Mm, I would like to practice English... but I would like to get more words too? Um... [She honestly takes a moment to try to pull up the one she's looking for - ] Adjective? Or... Vocabulary! Because... what I say now - I do not know if it has all of my feelings.

That is what I do not like.

[and boy does she have a lot of feelings]

[sharplydressed]

Of course. Being able to talk to someone is a two-way street, right?

[It makes sense to him, at least, but this is probably par for what she knows of the way Kashuu Logic™ goes...

After a little consideration, he also adds:]

I'm not sure if I'll be any good at helping you with words, but I'll do my best anyway. [HE'S NOT AN IDIOT BY ANY MEANS but he's also not the most verbose person ever, so he's not sure he'll be able to help her find words for more intricate ideas or emotions. That said...] It shouldn't be too hard to get some copies of textbooks for studying either, or like, phrase dictionaries or whatever.

[constellates]

[just teach her your super cute way of talking, kashuu]

Textbooks and "phrase dictionaries"...

[When she borrows the word that she doesn't know, she matches his inflection and everything, nodding once. Apparently her skills of mimicry are coming into play here.]

Then I will стараться. I will add it to my studying. I would like to speak with everyone correctly again, if I can.

[sharplydressed]

[WITH HER MIMICRY she'll probably end up picking up at least some of it regardless of his intentions...

But he'll nod encouragingly when he figures out she's copying the word, and in response to its inclusion in her super stellar study plan.]

If it's you, I'm sure you can make it happen. That's the kinda person you are, yeah? Just keep trying and we'll be there to help you if you goof here and there.

[constellates]

The kind of person that I am...?

[There's a bit of a confused note at that - she's not sure what kind of person people think she is but. There's a bit of a happy note that she hums, a smile curling on her lips before she even realizes.]

If that's what you think... Да. Yes. Then I will do my best to live up to what you hope.

[That sort of thing - living up to ideals... it feels a little familiar.]

[sharplydressed]

[Smiles are definitely much better than frowns or looks of vague unhappiness. He smiles a little in turn.]

Just don't be too hard on yourself while you pick things up again, okay?

[If only because he doesn't think anyone else in the world would criticize Anya and if they did, they'd have a mob on their ass in like .5 seconds.]

[constellates]

[ . . . . well. There's a little bit of uncertainty there before Anya nods.]

Ah... I will try. [There's still just a bit of fear?] But I hope that people do not... Высмеивать? Laugh at me... I know that it is different from before but...

[Well.]

It is okay... Maybe. I have been called silly before...

[sharplydressed]

It's all about the attitude! Think of it as prepwork for your modeling.

[FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT. And have some bodyguards on hand, maybe. Actually, speaking of--]

But if anyone does laugh at you? Let me know.

[This is the wrong AU for murder but no one says he can't still beat people up behind the gym and make them regret living, okay.]