one ♡ a not-so-happy valentine post

[dereban]

[ This post shows up in the late afternoon on the 14th, under the user named Queen: ]

I'd say "happy Valentine's" but this application has currently ruined the holiday in the worst possible way. Why couldn't we have had forced blind dating? Or even Cupid arrow shenanigans? I would have liked either of those.

So, a quick set of inquiries. There are still sane people on the app that haven't gone obsessive crazy, right? Or know someone that can help with self defense... I kind of need it now.

Comments

un: yiu li-na

[invocate]

Obsessive crazy? Are you okay?

[like, if you need someone's ass kicked, Li-Na has the perfect pair of boots for it, just sayin']

I take capoeira classes at the Rec Center. And I know someone on the network teaches karate.

[dereban]

I'm fine, but I don't know if he is and I'm worried.

Is it difficult to learn those sorts of things if you're not athletic?

[invocate]

Do want someone to check on him? There's a police detective on the app. It wouldn't have to be anything official, especially if this is something app related.

[just, you know, someone who would be a responsible adult... more adult than they are]

If you like dancing, you might find capoeira easier to learn than another style, because it is very rhythmic. But I think as long as you are committed to learning, you will be fine.

[dereban]

I don't want to make this that big of a deal. Especially since I don't know if other people are like that, too. [ He can't be the only one, right? ] I've never danced before, so I wouldn't know if I like it or not.

[invocate]

You don't have to make a big deal out of it, but I'm not going to lie to you. Sometimes people can end up acting REALLY weird due to something going on with Retrospec. I've had friends and family members behave very aggressively and a couple even attacked me. I knew it wasn't their fault at the time, but it didn't make it any less scary or stressful.

I haven't seen any signs that we're experiencing something as widespread as what happened in October, so whatever is happening with your friend might be an isolated incident or just limited in scope.

[trying to not sound all doomsday here...]

Since the classes are held at the Rec Center, you can just drop by and watch a couple classes, see if you like what you see. And I think the martial arts schools in the city are the same way. You can watch a few classes from the side before actually signing up for anything.

[dereban]

I figured that out pretty quickly, actually. That he was probably acting strange due to something happening to him.

At least he wasn't trying to hurt me, but still...

If it was an isolated incident, then I guess he was unlucky to get hit by it. Either way, it's not good. I hope he doesn't blame himself too much, though.

And I see. Do they cost anything? I would assume they do, but I want to be sure.

[invocate]

So it was a big enough difference from his usual behavior that it was obvious, huh?

Once you're sure he's back to himself, you can tell him you're not mad at him.

Yes, they do have a fee. They're [insert reasonable amount here]. I only have time for one class a week, so it's not bad.

[dereban]

Yeah. And I will. He's really important to me, after all. That's not too bad, so I'll definitely keep it in mind.

[invocate]

Oh, question. Do you go to the high school or the university? Because if the later, I'm at the campus rec center every morning to work out. If you'd be interested in a gym buddy that is.

[with the whole custom handle and icon, Li-Na figures 'Queen' must be either high school or college age, as the post-college set of app users don't seem to care about account customization]

un: ellen jaguar

[usurpers]

I can teach you.

[dereban]

Really?

Would I owe you anything?

[usurpers]

Nothing beyond showing up on time. How’s your schedule?

[dereban]

I have classes in the afternoons from 1 to 5 PM on weekdays; then a work shift from 6 to 8 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

I'm free any other time, though.

[usurpers]

[ hm . . . eren sends her a quick (but already made) schedule on his end— free from 5am to 8:30am every day on weekdays, afternoons from 6pm to 8pm on tuesdays and thursdays. sunday is free, and so is saturday. ]

If you want progress, I'll need you every day. We can do mornings and afternoons when you can.

[dereban]

I can work with that. Just as a heads up, though: I'm not exactly the most athletic.

[usurpers]

You'll need the conditioning to keep up, so we'll work on that too. I won't let you hurt yourself and I won't trick you into believing you can do it without any sort of prep.

We can meet at RRFC first and I'll see what we can do.

[dereban]

I figured that would be the case. And I'd prefer the cold hard truth than any of the crap that you'd hear from infomercials about getting stronger real quick.

Would today be alright or should I wait until tomorrow?

[usurpers]

Today. This sounds a little urgent, so the sooner you start the better.

[dereban]

I called out sick for work already, so anytime today works, for the record.

[usurpers]

I can meet you at the Rec Center right now if you can.

[dereban]

I'll be there.

Just look out for someone wearing all black.

[usurpers]

I’m wearing an Iron Giant t-shirt.

[ at the rec center, eren will certainly keep his eyes open for someone wearing all black. hopefully there’re not too many people wearing all black, he hopes.

but eren walks around, a tall young man with a bag slung across his back, hair tied up and with the shirt. ]

[dereban]

[ He should be glad that she actually knows what Iron Giant is, being a bit of a nerd herself. But Raina definitely shows up in all black workout clothes, peering when she notices the shirt. She's pretty short (being 5'2") but at least she's noticeable... Although. Uh. She never did introduce herself properly, now did she. ] Yoooooo.

[usurpers]

[ “a bit”.

when queen had said all black, honestly, eren had assumed a punk. sort of. or goth. tol meets smol, and when he double takes to being called, eren looks mildly surprised. his eyes blink, wide, because he’s seen her face before. in a picture.

(a cosplay picture, in fact). ]

You’re— Rean’s sister?

[dereban]

[ She's not the one who had some sort of weird goth phase in her life - spoilers: that was her brother - and whole she could probably pull the punk look, she's a lot more practical and has a decent sense of 'normal' style. Not to mention that it is, in fact, February and still winter.

Although her eyes widen at the mention of her brother's name, looking pretty surprised for a moment before her shoulders relax, although her voice comes off a little more awkwardly than it should ]

Y-yeah, that's me... Did Rean show you a picture of me or something?

[usurpers]

[ rean (that is all we need to say, rean).

eren smiles, the way raina wouldn’t get but closer friends would: it’s the smile he gives when he’s about to nerd the heckie out of here. ]

A picture of both of you. You make a great Alisa.

[dereban]

[ Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no, Raina is turning pale as a sheet because hearing those words is a curse but she tries to smile through it after a second, a little strained. ] Ah, is that so? I appreciate it and will tell my brother after he's back to normal that you told me that. [ Rean Schwarzer is fucking dead. ]

[usurpers]

[ was it something he said

well— anyway! he sees that she doesn’t look too good, straining smiles are a chore to pull off and, ah. maybe this is why, it has nothing to do with cosplay. ]

Is something wrong with him?

[dereban]

[ It's probably fine, although she stops the smile when he mentions that. ]

Yeah, he was acting strangely possessive when I saw him earlier today.

[usurpers]

[ hm.

recollé needs to fix this. well, they need to fix that. it wasn’t the first time this month that he’s heard, or seen, someone acting weird. either way— in a beat of silence, eren bows his head, an acknowledgement, before extending his hand to her. ]

I’m Eren.

[ ellen jaguar was a mistake ]

[dereban]

[ To be honest, she doesn't like the idea of someone else solving issues for them. But she doesn't think that there's anything that she, personally, can do to actually help. Steeling her expression, she takes the hand in a firm handshake to properly introduce herself. ] It's Raina. So should we get started?

[usurpers]

I'll just get changed.

[ no one wants to practice self defense with jeans on. luckily, there's a spot that's completely free in the training area, complete with safety mats. eren gestures that way while he goes into the locker rooms— only to change out of his jeans and into leggings and training shorts and meet her at the mats.

the t-shirt stays. ]

You've never had any sort of self defense class?

[dereban]

Alright.

[ Raina quietly nods her head in understanding, letting him get changed himself as she just waits patiently in the training area, doing some simple stretches in the meantime before he's back.

She... kind of wonders if he likes that shirt that much, but doesn't bother to ask it. Even if her cosplaying hobby was exposed. ]

Yeah, I haven't at all. Back at home I didn't have to, and I thought that would also be the case when I transferred last month, but...

[ It clearly isn't. ]

[usurpers]

We’ll fix it.

[ he’ll fix up a training schedule for her, but right now he’s just studying how, with her body stature. mm. yes!! he might have something. ]

Warm ups. [ they have to do those first, before anything, and after they’re done, enough to start sweating a little— perfect. that’s right where he wants them. ] Remember that strength isn’t always what saves you. It’s how you use someone else’s strength against them.

. . . Most of what I learned is from a girl three heads smaller than me, and she’s the one who taught me that. After beating my ass more than once.

[dereban]

Right. [ She nods casually while managing to keep her composure. Warm ups are definitely important, given that they're the basic of basics - even someone like her who doesn't do much exercise outside of what used to be mandatory physical education classes - which are practically none now that she's in college instead of high school, it honestly doesn't take much to get her to start breathing a little heavily. She's definitely more on the delicate side, that's for certain. Just give her a moment to catch herself before giving a decent response. ] And that makes sense. Using people's strengths and weaknesses against them is honestly more my style, anyway. [ As she is very much a tactics oriented person to begin with. ]