[open] You're lost, little girl

[petitfairy]

Date & Time: January 19th-31st
Location: The housing complex, the Hold, some random alleyways, etc.
Characters: kid!Sheryl Nome and YOU
Summary: A little girl wanders around Exsilium and gets lost a lot. Spoilers: she turns into a pop star ten years later.
Warnings: SO MUCH SAD

OPTION A: January 19th, right outside the Hold and alleyways
[Sheryl Nome is no stranger to murky skies and dark buildings towering over her like creepy monsters from nightmares; in fact, she can describe what they look like even as she closes her eyes. Lifeless, dull, dreary, unsettling. This place may not be Galaxy, but the similarities are too apparent that she might as well be at the slums by now. Heck, it even rains just like back home. To a seven-year-old girl who lived through that, it's jarring.

Clutching a newspaper over her head, she toddles around, eyes shifting from one side to the next as she appears frightened, her jaw tightly clenched. Despite how hard she's shivering and how unhealthily skinny she looked, she keeps walking across the sidewalk, trying her best to fight back tears. Dark smudges are all over her cheeks and legs, and her dress looks ragged from constant wear. Under close inspection, bruises can be seen on her knees. As for her hair, it's no longer a vibrant shade of pink — like she's been trapped in ash.

To anyone who once met her as a teenage idol singer with a confident stride, they may be able to spot similarities in appearances, mainly from the face and hairstyle. Don't mind her as she eventually bumps into someone without looking, causing her to fall on her back and yelp out loud. Shielding herself with both arms, she squirms to back away.]

Ah! I-I'm sorry...! Please don't hurt me!

OPTION B: January 20th-beyond, inside the apartment and the Hold
[After finally becoming accustomed to indoors, little Sheryl takes her time to explore her surroundings. Eyes widened, she winds up sneaking inside various rooms unsupervised, curiosity getting the best of her. As she continues with the tour, she keeps her hand pressed against her stomach, looking worried that she may not find some food on time. She doesn't have any money on hand, and she feels bad asking the people she'd already met for snacks. Additionally, she's still painfully shy around other Transports in general, fearing that she'll stumble upon a dangerous kind.

This girl may be little, but she thinks she can fend for herself for a while. No big deal, right?

Sheryl can also be seen at the training room/makeshift daycare center either A) painting some pictures, B) playing with a huge teddy bear, or C) making a mess. Bother/play with her?]

OPTION C: January 21st-beyond, wherever
[Feel free to make up any scenario! She could be wherever your character is located.]

(OOC: Action or prose is fine by me!)

Comments

[petitfairy]

Best friend...

[She echoes softly, and as she glances back at Ranka, she can feel a slight tug in her heart, an incredible warmth deep inside.

And just like that, tears slowly well in the corners of her eyes before streaming down her cheeks. Sheryl never had any friends before, much less a best friend, but somehow, she wants to keep seeing Ranka again, almost as if she should remember her.]

I-I want to be your friend, too!

[ex_symbioses706]

( ranka can feel a tug on her own heart, seeing this ragged little girl who's never had a friend before. sheryl nome, the woman she's looked up to so much for so long, admired so much, who gave her the wings to take flight herself, was once this little girl - and the thought makes her own eyes burn. she doesn't even know if sheryl would want to now, but she opens her arms for a hug anyway, crouching down so she's more easily within reach. )

That's great!

[petitfairy]

[Sheryl's heart tugs even further the longer and harder she cries, shoulders trembling from the overflowing emotions within herself. Soft hiccups escape from her as well, and feeling just a bit braver, she awkwardly toddles closer to Ranka, both shaky hands outstretched.

If only more people showed this kindness back in Galaxy, then...

Another sniff, another step closer, and she falls forward in Ranka's arms within a moment.]

[ex_symbioses706]

( she wraps her arms around the smaller girl, holding her tight. )

[petitfairy]

[The embrace is secure enough that Sheryl slowly wraps her tiny arms around Ranka, resting her head on the other girl's shoulder as she continues to cry.]

[ex_symbioses706]

( she's quiet for a while, unsure of what to say, but eventually starts humming in what she hopes is a comforting way, then starts singing aimo - the cut they'd made for the movie, a little longer and more affectionate - softly. )