100stringcheeses | IC Inbox

[Cont. from here]

[They'll eventually make their way out without any further incident, though Naruhodou will keep walking to put some space between them and the attraction.] Do...do you want to grab a drink or something? [Actual food might be off the table here, but drinks are ok, right? At least for Naruhodou, eating is how he handles stress.]

Huh? ... Oh. Yes, something to drink would be nice. Maybe tea, or something like that.

[ 21 might've sounded a bit spaced out at the start, mostly because she was. As they got further from the attraction, it slowly started to sink in that she needs to be more open with others about what she is and what she could one day do if she isn't careful. And honestly, that's just as scary to her as the other 21 showing up some day.

Even if her usual way of handling stress is eating, she's not sure about the food here either - drinks should probably be fine, though. She does need something. ]

[It's fine, Naruhodou is still holding onto her hand and keeping them on track for getting that warm drink. ]

Erm, I hope hot chocolate is ok. [Tea doesn't seem to be on the menu at these venues.]

Hot chocolate is just as good. It might be better than tea right now, honestly ...

[ And has the bonus of being nice and sweet too, which is what she needs the most. She's still obliviously holding on to his hand as well, not seeing a reason to let go just yet. Once that hot chocolate is ready though? She'll be letting go for sure. ~~sorry man, she likes hot chocolate more than hand-holding~~ ]

[He nods, ordering them both hot chocolate. They'll settle onto a nearby bench once they've gotten their sweet hot chocolates.] . . .It's still hot, so be careful. [Good talk.]

Y-Yes, of course ... [ Excellent talk. She stares into her cup, not trying it out just yet. ] ... So then ... Did you have a bad experience with doctors?

[ who's problem caused this awkwardness again, 21 has no idea, shhhh ]

Huh? Oh. [He scratches the side of his head.] I just don't like them. They stab you with needles, make you take disgusting medicine and then charge you to get stabbed and for the medicine! [He shakes his head.] Thankfully, I haven't had a need to go to a doctor since I was a kid.

Since you were a kid? ... That's no good, Naruhodou. Humans should be seeing a doctor at least once a year for a standard check-up. I can understand the fear, but you need to be more concerned for your overall health.

[ She's lightly frowning with a mildly scolding tone, but that doesn't last long. She finally tries out her hot chocolate, and is very suddenly all smiles. Yes, good, this is exactly the level of sweet she needed right now. ]

It's perfect ...!

But, I've been fine. I haven't been sick at all, well except the one time here, but I got better without seeing a doctor.

[He watches her enjoy her hot chocolate and then looks down at his. He feels bad for ruining a moment but...] So...who was that other person who sounds like you?

[ 21 shakes her head in disapproval, but doesn't chase the whole doctor thing. As long as he's okay, then maybe it was fine. So instead, she takes a sip of her hot chocolate again. ... Which turns into a long sip, thanks to his question. She knew the question was coming, but ... ]

She's ... me. [ ... ] That is to say, she's an aspect of myself that I'd forced out. A ... A culmination of dark thoughts that proved more difficult to control than I ever thought ...

[ Really, even as she quietly and awkwardly tries to explain, it might be clear that she doesn't really know how to explain the other 21. They were one, until she forced the evil one out ... but what did that make either of them? She's not sure. ]

...Do you mean that literally in a physical sense or mentally? [It's hard to tell during the mirror conversation what she meant about this other me being forced out.]

... Both, actually.

[ She sighs, adjusting her glasses to alleviate some nervous energy. What was he going to think of her with everything she'd have to say ...? ]

She initially started as a split personality of sorts. She gained control a few times, and did some horrible things ... But once I regained control, I did everything I could to keep her down. [ ... ] But ... eventually ... I-I ...

[ -- No. She's not quite ready to talk about what happened to 16. She bites her lip and moves on. ]

... I managed to force her out, in a manner that I suppose counts as physical. Fission, essentially ... I removed her from myself by doing that, but as a result, she'd gained her own body to cause trouble with ...

[ She pauses again, not sure how to continue or if she even should. ]

[He frowns, tilting his head. He sort of got that, but he's not very good with science talk.]

So basically right now, she's a separate part of you, but also...still affects you in some way?

If only that were actually true ...

[ She stops herself from saying something extremely negative as a follow-up to that statement - Piccolo had told her not to be so hard on herself, so she's going to try. ]

... She and I are completely separate entities now, thanks to that fission. However, we were one before. And I ... I'm afraid that, left unchecked, I could become just like she was. [ A quick pause, but she immediately follows that statement up. ] B-But I haven't been ignoring my problem! I've been researching all I can ... and I think I'm close to figuring out a solution. I just need time ...

[ She's definitely skimping out on some info here, though she herself doesn't seem to realize that. 21 isn't used to talking about these issues, or any at all. ]

[Yeea, her leaving out details only has him question it and more confused. He scratches his head.] I'm not sure I followed that entirely, but are you sure you can? It sounds like...there's a part of you that can't really be taken away, as bad as it sounds.

[ 21 takes another long sip of her hot chocolate, and an additional moment to calm herself. The air around her is starting to smell strongly of lemon tarts - she's hitting a point of being all nerves and expecting the worst out of what she has to say next. ]

Naruhodou, I-I ... I am a special type of android. One created using the cells of countless researchers and warriors. Because of the way I came to be ... some of the cells inside me are going berserk, even as we speak. They drive me to want to do such horrible things, specifically to other powerful fighters ...

[ A moment to breathe. She can do this. ]

... While she gave in to those urges, I have been doing everything in my power not to. I have some means to help with it, but it gets harder every day, and I ... I don't want to end up like her ...

[He stiffens as she explains the method behind her creation, squeezing the cup in his hands] ...So that's why that other you was saying I was too weak to be even worth a snack.

[Someone not worth fighting is what he thinks the other one meant. By the end of it, he's more angry than terrified.] Who would do that to you? Isn't having one person enough? With all sorts of people inside you, I'd go crazy too.

[ She's being vague purposely, though she starts to feel that maybe she should bluntly explain her unique abilities. ... Until she hears Naruhodou's understanding of the situation.

For a moment, she looks bewildered. Why would he think there's multiple people inside her? Then another moment later ... she starts to quietly laugh. Here she was, so wound up and nervous, and she didn't even think to check that he'd even understand her explanation! ]

S-Sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't even consider that you might not understand certain things ...

[ She shakes her head and takes a breath, hoping she didn't just accidentally insult the poor guy. The strong lemony scent is scaling back a fair amount that to that. ]

It's not so much that there's multiple people inside me ... It's their DNA, their genetics. Everything that makes up that person's power, physical traits, and other abilities ... That is what I was referring to. ... One of the beings used was far more unstable genetically than anyone could've realized. [ Finally ... ] As for who did this ... it was my creator, for reasons I still haven't figured out myself. I'm ... not sure I want to know, either.

...S-Sorry, words like DNA and genetics aren't anything I'm familiar with either. That's science stuff, right? Sorry. [He bows his head in apology, because he feels bad when she's trying her best to explain this to him. Where's Holmes when you need him?] But, traits and talents make sense to me! So they just...combine those abilities together and put them into one being? Sort of like how a mother and father can pass their traits to their child, but more extreme. [He's still doing his best to understand!]

It still sounds like they didn't really consider how compatible they would be when all those traits and abilities from different people come together. [He leans back in seat, letting out a sigh.] This may be beyond my comprehension, but one thing I do know is that you're suffering because of what your creator did. I don't know if there's anything I can do, but I want to help you if I can in some way!

[ She nods at his understanding of what's being said, since ... well, that was close enough. Her situation was complicated enough without her needing to pull out a textbook on genetics.

Although, his offer to help gets a rather blank, confused expression. He wants to help? After hearing and seeing all that, he ... ]

... You want to help me? After everything you've heard ...

[ People were so nice to someone as selfish as she is, and she'll never understand it. Not from Goku and his friends, not from Shirotsuki, and not from Naruhodou. Maybe ... Maybe she should just accept it, instead of blanking out at the thought of such offers, though. Even if she feels she hasn't earned kindness like this. ]

... Thank you, Naruhodou.

Well yea...how can I not after hearing that? [This seems like the most obvious thing to do.] Besides, we're friends, right? Friends help each other...eventhough I don't know what I can really do. Still, know that you have my support.

[21 is going to find a gift wrapped in a furoshiki this Christmas morning and full of homemade sweets, cookies and mochi shaped like snowman, snowflakes, presents and christmas trees. There's also a scarf wrapped up and a little card.]

Merry Christmas, 21!

I hope these gifts bring you happiness. If you ever want to know the recipe, you only need to ask. ~ Naruhodou

[ Merry Christmas, 21! A package wrapped in festive red and gold paper will be waiting for 21 in the living room. A little label near the bow reads: ]

To 21,

The bookstore promised this was perfect for beginners and pros.

From, Videl

[ Inside the wrapped box is a cookbook called The Emotive Baker: How to Add Just the Right Feeling to Your Treats. It's full of recipes for various cakes, pies, cookies, and pastries, all with large full-color pictures of each dessert. Just looking at this book may make you start craving sweets. ]

[Hello 21, merry Christmas! Adding to the pile of presents and the ever growing attempt to stop 21 from escaping her own home, there's a gift box done up with a bow outside waiting for her.

Inside are a few items. The first is a scarf with a... Very unique colour scheme to it. The colours seem to run together in a few places and, well, an attempt was made at whatever it was the maker of the scarf was going for.

The second is a roll of raw cookie dough, tied up and carefully packaged so it doesn't go anywhere. There's a recipe card with the dough so 21 should be able to finish cooking the cookies herself and make more if she ever wants to! ~~Or eat it as it is, heck it's her present, the present isn't the boss of her~~.

Finally there's a small note, folded neatly at the bottom of the box.]

21

I ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴄᴏᴏᴋɪᴇs! Iᴛ ғᴇʟᴛ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀʏ. Tʜᴇʏ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴛᴀsᴛᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴍᴇʟʟ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ʙᴀᴋᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ɢᴏᴏᴇʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴠᴇɴ. Lᴇᴛ's ᴛʀᴀɪɴ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇ, ᴏᴋᴀʏ?

Fᴀʀᴀʜ

[Hello, 21. You like sweets don't you? Well, Soundwave baked deer face sugar cookies for her. He worked hard on making these- with some research made and some trial and error. But presentation-wise, they... still definitely don't look perfect. Heck, they don't seem like deer faces at all. Just some weird misshapen face-like things.

They're still delicious though! So, whatever! Because he knows 21 has quite a huge appetite, he baked at least 30 of the homemade cookies which he'll store in a box.

But because being seen leaving gifts might cause major embarrassment for him (unless you're his close friend then he might not mind), he'll leave 3 boxes by her front door, give the door a couple of solid knocks before immediately de-materializing his avatar. Goodbye! Enjoy these misshapen, but delicious mutated deer face cookie from anonymous. The only thing on the top of the box is a note that says "Enjoy".]

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