Once Upon A Rose [Aoi]

The consistent chattering of the many people strolling about was nearly overpowering on the eardrums. A mix of laughter and anger, sadness and love, and many other emotions were all cascading against one another in a gigantic swoop of madness. There were many factors to consider in a crowd as large as this one on this evening in Rose Garden. . . where everything was always tracing back to some form of magic. Be it the lights or the ground to the very individuals around, something was always lingering about here.

And here Shu was, reminiscing about the last time she was here.

She was different back then compared to how she was now. Her boyish demeanor and relaxed disposition was something to laugh at, remembering how then she used to be mistaken quite a bit for the opposite gender - creating jokes out of it to purposefully drag it on. It was in this same area that she also completed her first mission with her boss, and how a man was so frightened that the color was all but lost from him. The apology she had to make to the group of them was rather amusing if not humorous, causing quite a bit of a misunderstanding. It was a memory that certainly caused a giggle to pass pink tinted lips, head shifting downwards slightly in the process. Things certainly seemed to be so different now and it felt like it was so long ago.

But there were still some things that never changed.

The woman's memories were still fragmented and lost, scattered around Fiore in such a cruel game. The waitress knew that she couldn't go on forever without her whole memories and not knowing of her entire past, and yet certain flashbacks haunted her waking moments - taunting her to try and strain herself in remembering. There was only so much she could do yet she only was able to accomplish so little. Standing in the midst of a crowd nearly overflowing with happiness in such feminine clothing, a bag in hand, hair in a ponytail, eyes softened. . .

She was somehow feeling out of place; as if she didn't belong.

Gradually the days where the more fashionable types of clothing being of something that someone would, or come the time for winter be too unbearable to enjoy it. It were times like that where she would think to herself what it would have been like to be able to bare with the bitter cold just to keep to her preference of dresses and skirts, but that section has become devoted to finding something good- no, PERFECT for the first day that the weather would show it's wondrous conditions once more into wherever it would prove to be the first target for it. She waited for it, prayed for it even. Winter held its own beauty, that was something she cherished seeing itself, but her comfort lied in the other three seasons, and to be condemned indoors to indulge in her appearance was a little less than fun.

At the time now, it seemed a little more calming and enjoyable. The polluting sounds of conversations going on made the time mate a little more happy with the idea that the suspicions she had from watching the technology grow and dwindle down the actual genuine labor that people had done because of it. Of course, this wasn't that bad either. Quicker work in one field means that there's time for more and accomplishing more in one go, but that was only for the more work friendly type people. Otherwise... Well it was a useless effort to make them even lazier.

Jumping off the topic, she seemed to be slipping through the crowd and taking her time to do so. There was no rush to go anywhere anymore. She was dependent on her fear of death to keep herself alive, young even. But that was just to keep herself from facing the other fears that haunted her own memory. It was a frightening thought and even to be around for the chance she lost her memory. Sure, it would be an easy way to die when she thought about it; No memory means she doesn't have to face the fear of death, the fear of her plague witnessed past, and stopping the use of her magic to keep herself from dying could end peacefully. That's what she had hoped could happen, Isabella vowed to herself that until that time would come, she would continue to make others feel better. To help their lives become enriched or at least any better than what she could have had happen before.

Coming by more of the crowds, they started to thicken and become a little harder to move by. Her outfit was rather shorter than she usually had it, but truthfully the design of outfit was so cute she couldn't resist not wearing it. A yellow cheongsam styled dress with a black trim along the entire outfit where one was visible to normal people. A pair of yellow colored heels, colored to match the dress fit her feet like gloves. Lastly, her hair had been pulled over her left shoulder and braided tightly with another yellow colored accessory tying it off. It could be shown how wet her hair still was as well, as it was normal for her to do so. While progressing into the thicket, she avoided bumping into as many people as possible, until she was bumped into rather harshly, making her topple into another girl, but grabbing hold of her so neither girl would fall over. "I'm terribly sorry, madam. I had been so rudely shoved along and didn't want a fair maiden like yourself to ruin a cute outfit." She giggled and waited for her to react, hopefully not too angry by it or upset by anything.

A surge of emotion cascaded through her system, surprise bolting back and forth within a matter of seconds. With a soft gasp escaping from the depths of her being and a force pushing against her, the mysterious force's touch lingered along the fabric of her clothing and skin until the realization dawned upon her - someone was holding onto her. In order to help belay any possibility to collide with the ground below them, the young mage activated a sliver of her gravity magic to adjust the amount of gravity on both figures. Violet eyes began to illuminate a soft glow of purple as the two found the rhythm and balance in their being's, managing to keep hold of their balance as a relieved and hefty sigh passed by the black haired woman's lips.

That was too close. . . ! Whoever this was could have been hurt upon impact, and that fall wouldn't have been pleasant to begin with.

As the soft glow began to fade from the vibrant hue of her orbs, Shu listened to the figure to find that it was indeed another woman. Her voice was soft and very polite and even offered a compliment within her words, a soft smile gracing the woman's fair lips. The mage could only giggle softly in return with a shake of her head, not minding at all the collision or the accident caused mere moments ago. It wasn't this woman's fault and the crowd was strong in their waves today, their attention drifting to many different areas and places. Helping the caramel brown haired maiden straighten up her composure, Shu spoke up softly with the closing of her eyes.

"Aw, you're too kind, miss. And it's alright! It wasn't your fault and if anything, your outfit is rather spectacular and more deserving of that sweet compliment. However, that was quite the push you must have received then. Are you alright?"

Her violet eyes would have widened slightly upon observation of the woman before her, the crowd seeming to grow even more restless around them. The two of them would either have to move soon to a much more stable and safe environment, or hide away in a store until the people around them calm down as a whole. Either way, the two women would need to continue moving with the crowd - and soon to avoid getting pushed over and over again. "But before we get into the pleasantries, miss, how about we go inside a store? The crowd seems to be getting strangely restless around us, haha.", Shu said with a laugh and soft smile.

Isabella had made sure to hold onto the girl just around her abdomen until they were sure to be surely safe from their tumble into the ground. With the luck and reflexes of a couple hundred years of martial arts training and practice, she didn't lack he physical strength to keep her from falling, but even still for the girls small figure it wasn't an easy task. Just the unknown momentum alone had made the idea of it all much harder to securely keep from ending up with an injury which would then follow up with the guilt of it being her fault for doing such a thing to someone so innocent. It didn't matter if she had known her already or not. The fact was that she was innocent in the standing of the incident at hand and the results of which could have been worse than they were.

For a moment, it slept felt like the heels on her feet would fail her and she would begin to tip forward with the girl. However, a sudden kind of pull from the air itself had helped the caramel haired girl from it. "Was.. This magic? Doth thou maiden have a magic that pushed us up with wind? Or even the gravity?" She questioned herself for a moment, shaking away the idea after not really caring to push into what it had been. The girl faced her and she began to reply to her, which was sweet in her own way. She was more adorable fro maths front than she thought really. Violet colored eyes that reminded her of a bountiful bushel of Mums. Her eyes spoke volumes about her, though they had been closed while she spoke, the stranger had opened them again to show her just how she was compared to how she spoke. "Thy compliment is not really needed to be cast aside, maiden. It truly is nice to see that even common, casual clothing can still make someone look like the center stage actress." Her smile grew soft, eyes trailing over her outfit once more before she giggled.

It amazes her no matter how much time went by how different people had acted compared to many others. The countless personalities were endlessly unique and though people had categorized them, there were still parts that made them different. This raven haired girl was just that; unique and special. Whether she knew it or not didn't matter, because Isabella was going to help her see it. A look of confusion set in for a moment while she was spaced out, looking at the girl as she begun to pull the time mage along. She wanted to skip into a store to avoid it, and a light bulb clicked on. Isa quickly took the lead and nodded to the girl, sliding along into a nearby dress shop and pulling the girl in with her. It was quiet. Not a soul in the place and unbeknownst to the girls, two employees in the back. "This should do nicely, madam." She spoke up, pausing to give a bit of a curtsy and smile. "My name is Isabella Zachirou. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." Ending her introduction, she would give the girl a moment to introduce herself back. In that time, she would size up her body, just wondering what her size was. They were here after all, why not indulge in the fun!

This young woman was surprisingly well mannered and eloquent, her speech and vocabulary impeccably fluid. The level was surprising and it could only leave Shu in utter surprise and awe. Never had she encountered an individual quite like this - an individual that left such a peculiar impression that she didn't know what to make of it. Rarely anyone she knew carried such a vocal pattern and vocabulary, and it was only leaving the mage all the more curious as to the woman's origin. Shu even began to wonder just what her interests were on a day like today, and even forgot why she herself was out here in Rose Garden of all places. With a sudden and concrete embarrassment swirling about within her system, the black haired woman began to try and remember why she was out here.

Wh-What was I even out here for in the first place again? Come on, Shu, think. . . ! Th-This is utterly embarrassing!

A warmth began to spread through to her cheeks in embarrassment, her thoughts constantly capturing her attention as she carefully began to guide the acquaintance through the restless crowd of people. The truth that the waitress didn't manage to bump into anyone else was an impressive feat on its own considering the near chaotic mess of happiness regarding the people. So many chattering voices rung throughout her eardrums to create a cascading, gigantic, mashed up wave of noise. Shu was becoming unsure as the time passed on regarding what shop to enter as there were many options, all lined up, until the young woman began to take the lead - pressing onward with a gentle grasp of her hand.

The waitress just followed the woman's lead while keeping on a tight grasp of her handbag, afraid she may drop it in the rather bizarre crowd around them. It wasn't too long that they both reached a store that was all but quiet upon entrance, the black haired woman not realizing the main purpose of the establishment until all that met her gaze were many decorative, beautiful designs of clothing. It wasn't until the woman next to her spoke up again that her being jolted slightly in indication upon her returning to the world of reality, her gaze shifting to give the maiden her full attention. She curtsied after a moment with a polite smile, her name sliding off her tongue with ease as if she had done this many a time.

Her name is Isabella Zachirou. . . That's quite a unique name.

With her own smile etching its way slowly onto her lips, Shu grabbed the strap of her handbag with both hands - positioning it in front of her as she bowed respectfully. The young woman learned to do this many a time throughout her days as Infinity Hydra's waitress, and it was almost second nature to her that she keep up the stature and composure that came with the job. "It's very nice to meet you, Isabella. My name is Shu and I'm a waitress belonging to a guild.", she said softly and with care. If Isabella was curious enough to ask on what the guild was exactly, Shu would tell her without trouble. Isabella seemed like a very kind person.

Little had the mage known however that Isabella was sizing her up during that introduction she made, leaving her completely unaware of what was about to transpire in such a lovely store.

She observed every bit of this stranger from her facial expressions to her body language. She found that she was a little more shy than it she had come off to be. Not that it was a bad thing, in fact some people would find her adorable because of her being shy. Isabella had, but then again she liked all cute things so the shyness was all but making her giggle from it. She wasn't sure if she was just an over thinker who's thoughts had made her physically react to her own assumptions and thoughts, but as long as she was in the comfort of Isa's company, she would make sure the girl was very assured that she could be open and comfortable in what she did with and told her. That was one of her most redeeming qualities really; Being able to be someone that a person can trust to keep their secrets, their trust, and most of all, be there when they need someone most.

Being that kind of person for people is what makes Isabella feel like she's able to keep her facade up. Outside of her fear of dying and succumbing to the sickness that claimed thousands and thousands of lives from her own time, she wanted to help people as a feeling of retribution for not being able to save the ones she had come to know back then. While the raven haired girl led Isa along in the crowd, the other girl had begun to get lost in thought. Being a novice with the knowledge of what her magic could do then, she didn't know how to do what she did to herself with others. She looked around as she tried to stop looking into the past, and that's when she had taken the lead and led the girl along. The sense of familiarity and enjoyment in it all would be a nice change for them both, plus it was close so it wasn't so bad.

Once inside it was nice and quiet. It made it much easier for Isabella to get comfortable with the girl and get to know her. After the caramel haired girls own introduction, the other girl gave her own back. Her bow was a little odd for a lady, but the occupation she stated had made much more sense. She nodded and gave a close eyed smile to Shu. "My my, such a fitting occupation for a maiden with your kind personality." She paused and took a couple steps toward a rack of dresses before she spun around to face Shu and eyed her over once more for assurance. "So, doth thou mind telling me what guild you represent? I myself am a member of Blue Pegasus." She figured telling her the guild she was from first would prove to be a little easier to give her own away in return.

A brow raised as she looked at the girl and stepped up to her, placing her hand under her to cup her chin and lifted her face up to look into her eyes. The smile she had on her face had slipped away and she changed to one of worry. "Your eyes speak wonders about you, you know. I see at least thy fair maiden is troubled, but you don't want to bother others with it." She sighed and moved her hand to her shoulder and changed her expression back to a smile and picked up a dress and held it out. "I know we hath just become acquainted, but if you have troubles, please feel free to come to me and tell me. I am always wiling to listen and help with any problems that one may have. Now, try this dress on and come back out. I think it will fit you very well, madam." She pushed the dress on her lightly, not wanting to simply force her to take it, but she would hope she would indulge in the fun of this for now. "It should be very comfortable on the job as well!" She would hold up a hand with two fingers up, her middle finger and index like a peace sign while giving her a happy close eyed grin.

Isabella's words were nothing but sweet, kind, and well-mannered. Her appearance and aura matched that of a soft orb of warm light, encircling the world with many others of its kind. The young woman couldn't help but straighten herself after her introduction without any immediate compliments to give the female before her. Shu was still trying to recover from the lapse that this woman was quite a figure in the world - as were many others. People like this were simply hard to find, as if purposely hiding themselves away in the world. Nevertheless, the black haired mage smiled softly as words finally decided to grace her subconscious. "If I may ask, do you have any professional work, Isabella?" Such a question was merely out of curiosity and wonderance.

If the woman was learning from her, why not learn from the woman herself? It was then that Shu learned a new piece of information from the woman; a mage residing from the Legal Guild of Blue Pegasus. The black haired woman had never come across a mage from such a guild, but it was nevertheless to be respected. After all, it was out there fighting for its own goals, beliefs, and ends just like her own guild was. "Blue Pegasus? Oh my, that's quite a guild. I hope all has been well within and that everyone has been alright.", she offered with a bow of her head in respect before continuing. "As for my own guild, it's a newer group named Infinity Hydra." The woman blinked with a tilt of her head, offering nothing but a friendly smile Isabella's way.

She knew the woman bore no ill will, and she could be trusted; hence why she was becoming more and more comfortable as the moments passed on.

Although, her brows creased as she felt Isabella's fingers slide under chin - head tilting upwards as she found herself staring up at the mage before her. Her violet orbs disappeared every so often behind singular blinks, her lips having parted slightly as the woman spoke her words. The action was sudden and did revive the worry that once disappeared within her, but Isabella's words calmed her down without too much effort or trouble. Words of not only dependence and help, but of acceptance and kindness flowed forth from her being. Shu was indeed left speechless once more, words fumbling and stumbling in the mind before finding a dress in the majority of her view. It was a rather beautiful dress in a lovely shade of navy blue, and the woman could only smile softly as she took the fabric in her grasp - nodding her head.

"Before I go in there, Isabella, I wanted to just say. . . thank you. If you also ever need any help or just someone to talk to, I'll always be at Infinity Hydra or Solemn Park. Those are two places where you'll most likely find me." As she began to walk in the dressing room, she spoke up a tad louder than before as she was making her way inside. "Also, you're a rather unique individual! I-I haven't met someone like you, and that's pretty special on its own!", she spoke as she began to slip off details of her current clothing, indulging in this strange activity as she began to change.

It hadn't been very long at all since the two had become acquainted, but it already seemed like she had made a friend out of Shu yet. It was always her problem that she get close to people whom would never grace the same age gap that she had and hurt herself when those she held close would pass for one reason or another. Be it of old age or of some other wide range of causes, the mystery was besides the point of it all. Her only relief of the guilt was the happiness and comfort she could give to the ones she helped. She knew from the start in this fear ridden escapade of hers that she would never help everyone, but the more that she could get to would prove to be the best of assurance to her conscious.

Shu however seemed to be a special case. She was a lost soul, though happy on the outside there was still something troubling Isabella about her. It was one of those things that people tend to hide from others even though to those that know the signs that would be able to see it easily. Of course there's the sensitivity in making sure she be comfortable in telling Isa if anything was wrong in the first place. Never ever in her lifetime would she abruptly say she was a troubled person or deranged or anything of the sort. Just like herself, there was something that she needed to reach out to someone for, but they would just never admit to it. Even Isabella was like that. She longed for things to end for a while, but it was too much to consider it and let it happen. There was too much to give up and do before, and she would give at nothing to see it be fulfilled.

The caramel orbs of Isabella seemed to grow wider in surprise of the girls comment. She wasn't really expecting the random compliment or the very act of her mentioning at all. Her cheeks even flushed a light pink color and as did a soft smile. The looks soon turned into a calmer, happy look and she nodded to her comment as she turned away. "Thou is very kind to old lady like myself, madam Shu. I'll most definitely keep you in mind. Thy offer is very much appreciated as well. I haven't been offered that kindness in a long time." After she had already turned in and walked toward her changing room, she again spoke up. She couldn't help but giggle at the comment she gave. That was more true then she could ever think it to be. In time of along he right questioning, Isabella would reveal anything that she wished to know, as she never had a reason to hide that from anyone. "As is yourself, madam Shu. Two peas in the same metaphorical pod, no?" Her hands and eyes trailed over dresses as she spoke, picking out one dress and sliding into the sl changing room next to Shu and locked her door, sliding off her dress. "So, madam. Tell me a bit about yourself. I hath a high interest in learning about a friends life. I find it very fun and binding in ways." She would continue, only to stop while she got herself into her outfit slowly while they would continue to chat.

W-Wait a moment. . . Did she just. . . refer to herself as an old lady. . . ?

The realization was slow yet hit with a rather powerful force of curiosity. There was something definitely strange about Isabella's choice of wording regarding herself. Was she truly older than she seemed to appear? Let it be known and ring true to not judge a book by its cover, for the contents are much more important, but such a revelation caused the maiden to halt in her current motions of slipping the dress down her figure. Shu didn't wish to be rude to this woman located in the room next to her, as asking one's age was always found inappropriate one way or another. With the slight parting of her lips, she slowly slid the dress down the rest of the way and began attaching the fabrics with a slow yet relaxed composure.

Isabella seemed to be a rather unique individual with many a story behind her - hidden away behind a rather decorative personality. What lied beyond and rested away in each individual was always theirs and theirs alone unless they decided to share the contents. That was how each creature in the world worked away in communicating with others. Whatever stories, experiences, tales, memories they carried. . . they chose to share them all the same. Isabella would be no different from anyone else - even Shu herself - in that circumstance but was unique all the same.

Because each person themselves was different and could only be the one person they knew how to be best: Them.

"Isabella, if I may ask, why did you refer to yourself as an old lady? I don't wish to be rude but I-I'm just curious."

And with that the black haired woman felt her orbs soften as she observed herself in the mirror, the very image of what she was capturing seeming almost familiar. It was as if she gazed upon an individual like this a hundred times over, and admired them with grace. A painful shockwave of a headache surged through her head as her violet orbs widened momentarily, her footing staggering as she leaned back against the dressing room wall behind her. Another memory was currently playing through the depths of her mind - a very familiar memory that she had once before.

A small hand was holding another as there seemed to be a child and mother, walking side-by-side in one grand and joyous melody. The mother seemed to be wearing an elegant dress suited for outside wear and a hat for. . . No, to block out the sunlight? As the memory passed on, the mother's face seemed to grow more and more familiar before it abruptly stopped; the child's perceptive was completely her own as the entire memory played, and the young woman had trouble regaining the focus of her vision. All sound began to return to her being as she struggled to stand properly, her breathing slightly uneven.

She nearly missed Isabella's question.

With a completely flustered disposition, the waitress replied shakily. "M-My life. . . I don't remember much of it, Isabella.", Shu decided to reply honestly with a sad smile as she kept near the wall. "Although, it seems th-that on occasion I receive these little. . . flashbacks. Th-Those are the only clues I have to what my life could have been like, and where anyone wh-who knows more might be.", she finished with a shaky sigh, exiting the booth with a softened gaze and smile.

"What about you, Isabella? Wh-What's your life like? Since we're friends now. . . I wish to get to know you better as you do me."