[semi-open] i can't talk to you or your friends

[buttpunch]

Date & Time: Any time between Monday and Saturday
Location: Unit 118
Characters: Tsubomi Hanasaki + open to roommates and anyone who would stop by
Summary: Sewing and etc.
Warnings: Can't think of anything! I'll update as necessary.


[Tsubomi had taken a few hours at first to get herself situated with the sewing machine, unpacking it and examining the parts she wasn't familiar with. Finding somewhere to set it up had been more of a challenge, but she'd had the foresight to buy a TV tray while she was in Thailand, so she'd finally set it on that and found a chair to make herself a little sewing station tucked at the foot of the bunk she shares with Addie.

She's working now on a red blanket, her head lowered as she carefully sews and her foot working steadily on the pedal. The machine hums quietly, but she'd bought a nice machine, so it's merely a small steady hum rather than anything louder. She's facing the doorway, but her attention is whole and entire on the machine. She's still getting used to the machine, so she pauses often, readjusting the fabric. There's a stack of blankets folded neatly next to her with the note 'free for all' on top of it--she's going to set it out in one of the common areas, later, but she'd like to make some more.

Without seeming to notice, she starts to hum.]

[ooc: or feel free to post a different starter/contact me about another starter, i'll go with it!\

Comments

[concealingeyes]

[Like a good leader, Kido likes to check in on everyone and see how they are. It's more out of friendship, though, than real leadership: she believes in them and knows they can do good work without her giving them projects. So she isn't surprised when she peeks in and sees what Tsubomi is up to.]

Those look pretty warm.

[affectate]

[It took a month, but Elaine has finally run out of things to do on the moon. She's explored every accessible part of the base and eaten her fill of other people's food and done some knitting and read and re-read the books she had on hand and in her tablet, but, well. Things change. She has someone to avoid now, and most importantly, there's no library on the moon. What she's read is all there is, until this situation is fixed.

So she's left with no choice but to go "home." She opens the door to a red-pink haired girl on a sewing machine -- she's never used one, or even seen one actually, but she's read enough to be able to recognize them. But that doesn't really stop her from asking ]

Ah... What is it that you're doing, Miss?

[copia]

[ Kaede has the same similar thoughts as Kido: checking up on people and making sure they're settling in fine. Plus, a status update on the vegetables they brought up! So she finds Tsubomi's room and knocks on the door lightly to get her attention. ]

[bloodbiter]

[She's been trying to train more often, so her absences from the room they all share have become more frequent. As she enters today, she sees the machine Tsubomi has set up, pausing with curiosity.]

What is that? [The fabric automatically gains her interest, and modern technology is always fascinating to her. The fact that they're up here on the moon is still practically a miracle to her.]

[buttpunch]

[Tsubomi looks up a beat late.] Oh, Kido! [Surprise fades into a smile, and she brings her foot up to stop the machine for a moment.

She looks at the pile of blankets with some fondness.]

I picked the warmest fleece I could! It gets cold up here, doesn't it? [Her hoodie's been seeing a lot of use of late, at least.]

[buttpunch]

[Tsubomi vaguely recognizes Elaine, which is the only reason she only makes a small squawk of surprise at seeing her, instead of a big one. Ah--! [But it's not as if she's super-threatening, from here, and she relaxes, sheepish.] Ah, I'm sewing a blanket! People get cold, but there aren't very many left around, I don't think.

[A beat.] You can call me Tsubomi.

[buttpunch]

[Tsubomi looks up as soon as she finishes the corner she's working on--those are tricky if you start and stop--and then raises her voice.]

You can come in!

[She stops the machine, looking up curiously.]

[buttpunch]

It's a sewing machine! [She says it without looking up, recognizing Addie's voice, and when she reaches a stopping point, she pauses, smiling at her.]

Blankets are much faster to sew when I don't have to do all the work myself.

[copia]

[ Kaede doesn't mind waiting, watching her do her work from her spot at the doorway, and she walks in only when she's officially invited. ]

Hi, Tsubomi! I just thought I'd step by and see how you were since the move.

[buttpunch]

[A familiar and pleasant face! Tsubomi brightens up considerably.]

Kaede! [Wait--she clears her throat, getting more serious.] I mean, Branch Leader Kaburagi! [She sketches a salute without breaking character.] I'm doing just fine.

[affectate]

Ah, I see! That's very kind of you, Miss -- Tsu...bo...mi, you said? Do you live in this room?

[She takes a scanning glance around -- she doesn't want to just sit down as she pleases, even if she technically lives here too. It'd be rude if she sat on someone's things.]

[buttpunch]

Yes! Tsubomi. Tsubomi Hanasaki. [She pronounces her name carefully and clearly--she's grown used to doing this, by now.]

I live here, yes, with another girl. [Pause.] Are you our third roommate? [Dimly, she recognizes this girl, though--] Wait, you're in the Dan, aren't you?

[bloodbiter]

[She moves closer until she's next to Tsubomi, looking towards the machine with interest, watching as the needle moves up and down routinely.]

Forgive me if I'm distracting you, but how does that work?

[affectate]

Miss... Tsubomi, yes.

[The second time's a lot clearer, but there are definitely some traces of her accent stuck in there. Oh well. What can you do?]

Yes, I'm meant to live in this room as well! It is a pleasure to formally meet you, of course. I was recruited into the Dan by Shintaro some time ago, as well!

[copia]

[ Kaede laughs and lifts her hands up, returning the salute though! ]

"Kaede" is just fine, Tsubomi, I insist! That was pretty cool, though, and I'm glad to hear it! How have your plants been?

[concealingeyes]

Yeah seriously. I guess heating it too much would probably be hard...

[Kido pretty much lives in her hoodie anyway but wow is she grateful for it these days.

She sits down near the pile and rubs the blanket on top.]

Are you going to give these to people?

[buttpunch]

The power it would take would mean we can't use the freezer, I think. [She doesn't pay that much attention to the power systems stuff--the hydroponics lab is on its own generator.] But at least we can always bundle up!

[She turns in the chair to look at Kido instead of the machine.] Yes! I don't have an use for this many... [A pause.] Would you like one?

[buttpunch]

[It's close! She'll take it. (She's heard worse.)]

It's a pleasure to meet you, too! [In fact, she has to be polite--she stands and dips her head in a bow, hands clasped over her stomach, the whole nine yards.] And you are...?

[buttpunch]

[Tsubomi smiles.] Well then, hello, Kaede. My plants are nearly all in the hydroponics warehouse past the cafeteria, but after we got them settled in the water, they started growing just fine. I've been putting the lettuce and tomatoes we grow in the kitchen, when I can.

[She pauses to draw attention to the only plant in the room, a white cyclamen in a pot under a lamp at her bedside.] That one's not doing so well--it's very dry here in the rooms. I think I'm going to move it when we open the Agricultural Wing!

[buttpunch]

[She shakes her head.] No distraction at all! This is just for fun.

[She moves to gesture to the needle, then her foot on the pedal.] There's thread within the machine, and it's attached to the needle here. [She points to the pad.] When you press on the pedal, the machine stitches for you! You just move the fabric.

[affectate]

My name is Elaine! I can not operate a sewing machine, but I do knit often, so I am certain that we shall have much to discuss!

[As a fun aside, she is in fact wearing a knit scarf! It's a maroon-ish color and wrapped around her shoulders, as people tend to wear scarves.]

[buttpunch]

Elaine, of course! It's a pleasure, Elaine. [More Western-style names... Well, there are worse things.] I've never done any knitting before! We could teach each other some things, if you'd like!

[affectate]

Ah, that would be lovely! It would be wonderful if I could learn to operate sewing machines as well.

Is there another person that lives here?

[bloodbiter]

So the machine pulls on the thread, and that pulls the needle along in turn?

[A small smile.]

That's incredible. Was it invented recently or is it something that just came shortly after my time?

[buttpunch]

Of course! I'd be happy to teach you how to use it. Once you get the hang of it, it isn't so hard.

[She nods.] There are two, actually, a girl named Addie, and a boy named Dirk.

[buttpunch]

Exactly!

[She has to think, for a moment. They'd studied this, back in Fashion Club--] The first sewing machine was invented in the 18th century, I believe. If I had to guess, it would probably be closer to my time than yours.

[whiteblossom]

[At about three-thirty in the afternoon, there is a knock at Tsubomi's door. Behind the door, Sakura clears her throat, clad in a t-shirt that's tight over the chest and shoulders but way too small in the waist, and a pair of shorts that barely fit.]

Pardon me, Tsubomi Hanasaki...

[copia]

I'm glad they've worked out here! That was brilliant of us to ask the Initiative about bringing them.

[ Kaede's attention moves towards the pot, and she walks closer to get a better look at it. ] It's very pretty. Is it a fruit or vegetable plant? And do you know when the Agricultural Wing is meant to open?

[buttpunch]

[Tsubomi pauses her work in order to stand up. What a deep voice!]

Yes! I'm coming! [It's not a voice she recognizes, so she should open the door for them, right? Yes. She shuts off the machine with some fiddling, and goes to the door.

She's head-height near Sakura's waist, so she looks up--and up. The condition of Sakura's outfit suggests exactly why she needs her uniform repaired, and she's already mentally thinking of what fabric she has to help this girl's wardrobe.]

Hello! You're... Sakura?

[buttpunch]

It was! Thank you again for the idea. I don't what I would have done, if I'd had to start all over.

[She smiles.] It's just a flower. It--reminds me of a friend back home, so I keep it close. [She taps her chin.] The end of the month, I believe, is when things will be ready!

[copia]

Not a problem! That's what brainstorming is for, right?

Ah. Well, that's great that you saved it. [ It makes Kaede think about how she almost left the umbrella Barnaby bought for her when she first arrived back in Exsilium, planning on only taking a piece of it. She took the entire thing instead.

She turns and leans against the desk lightly, clapping her hands together. ]

That's great! Hopefully things keep going up from here, right? [ FAMOUS LAST WORDS ]

[whiteblossom]

Yes. It is nice to meet you, Tsubomi Hanasaki.

[She bows, offering the parts of the school uniform, and aside from the torn sleeves, which were out of necessity, the uniform is still stained with her blood and now torn. Besides that, one of the hems has popped open, and she feels ragged when she wears it.]

This is the article of clothing which needs adjusting. I was only here for a very short period of time before I was forced to move, and I do not have much clothing.

[She thinks, again, of the small cache of Naegi and Kirigiri's clothing that she has taken into her possession. She has to find someone to give the clothing to, she can't just hold onto it forever. Of course, none of it fits her.]

[logicist]

[ Did somebody say sewing machine? No, they didn't, but he does hear the telltale sound of one. As light as the machine's hum is, it does catch Dirk's attention the second he leaves his room. He glances in the direction it's coming from and carefully pads over. For the most part, he's kept to himself and buried himself in his room since his arrival, but...

Sewing, ok. Or more like a sewing machine. That's like a combination of two of his interests for the price of one, though he can't say he's used a sewing machine himself. Typically he does his shit by hand, though he's interested in trying the same thing with a machine sometime. That or he's interested in taking the machine apart to see how it works, then maybe rebuilding it with some modifications.

Which, uh, he shouldn't do. Because that's not his machine. ... yeah. When he's nearby, he stands as casually as he possibly can and--waves. Kind of awkwardly. ] Hey. [ Fuck, that was lame. Ok, whatever, he tilts his head to look at the blankets. ] Are these yours?

[buttpunch]

It's nice to meet you, too, Sakura!

[She takes the uniform with care, but doesn't examine it much yet, stepping back.]

After some bleach and some patching, I think it'll be all right. Come inside!

[She gestures, to draw Sakura inside, and crosses to the sewing machine, pushing the chair back enough to lay the uniform skirt across her lap, first. The blouse and tie are draped carefully over the machine's body as she lifts the skirt up.]

[whiteblossom]

[She walks in, keeping her movements quiet and controlled. The rooms were small, and she was very large.]

Right, the blood. I had nearly forgotten.

[She stands with her hands folded in a corner, watching Tsubomi position things. She's impressed by the quietly measured movements of the petite girl. She's very delicate.]

Is there anything I can do?

[affectate]

Thank you --

[But she stops when she hears their roommates' names. "Addie" is probably a nickname, but...]

... The boy is named for a dagger? ... Or perhaps it is a shorter form of "Dietrich"?

[buttpunch]

[Tsubomi taps her mouth thoughtfully.] I think his name is just Dirk. You'd have to ask!

[buttpunch]

Yes! We're all capable of much more together.

[She worries at the fabric in the machine.] I thought that I should save one plant, just for me, if I could.

[Then she smiles, more cheerfully.] I think we're beginning to make excellent progress! This isn't an ideal place, but we can at least make it livable, in a small way. And it can help our progress once we--once we're back on-planet.

[LITTLE DID THEY KNOW...]

[copia]

Everyone deserves to save something for themselves, especially considering the circumstances. But yes, it's great that so many people are trying to help each other out. There's no point in fighting amongst each other when we need to focus on striking back at the United Scum.

[ DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUUUN ]

Have you eaten anything yet?

[buttpunch]

Well, things have been extremely busy, so it's not a surprise!

[The hem on the skirt is her first order of business, and she swaps out the half-finished blanket for the skirt in short order. After a moment of trying to find a place besides 'the floor', she holds the blouse and tie out to Sakura.]

If you could hold these for just a second? I can hem the skirt without a problem, but I'll need to bleach the rest before I can get to them.

late late late sorry!

[buttpunch]

[Tsubomi hasn't seen a ton of their latest roommate around, equal parts because of her somewhat overwhelming schedule and what seemed like his desire to hide out. (Not that she blamed him--this was a hard place to be.) So when he speaks, she looks up with a series of confused blinks. Oh, he was talking to her! She smiles.]

Hello! [She lets the pedal stop so she's not messing up her hemming, and looks at that pile.] I made them, yes. But they're free to take, if you'd like.

[affectate]

Hm... Yes, perhaps I will! Thank you, Tsubomi!

What else do you sew, blankets aside?