003 [action/text]

[aerialassault]

[Action: Locked to Fayt Leingod and (maybe) Albel Nox]

[It was cold.

Cliff shifted under the blankets and stretched his legs, not caring about anything but the familiar knitted sheets that touched his bare skin and the familiar scent of what he knew was his apartment in town. It was simple. It was a taste of the freedom he would grab once he slept off his aching muscles and refreshed his weary mind.

For the moment he just wanted to appreciate the warmth. He didn't remember the beds being this comfortable...]

[Action: Open]

[People in town might notice an unfamiliar young woman wandering about the shops that afternoon in search of something that fitted better than the oversized leather bomber jacket and heavy boots that covered her thin white dress. Her striking blue hair and green eyes bore a startling resemblence to another young man, Fayt Leingod-- but, that had to be coincidence.

Passers by might even find her asking them a simple question in a tone that hinted at her contained frustration:]



Hey. Could ya gimme a hand for a minute?

[Clearly, she wasn't used to asking for this sort of help.

Later on, a quick message in a familiar hand is scrawled out in the journals for everyone to read:]

[Text]

I'm back. Anyone miss me?

Comments

[sewdamncute]

[Kanji turned at the sound of the girl's voice. He took a step back. his heart racing as he saw the blue hair and the surly expression.]

Naoto? When'd you...

[Wait, not his friend from home. Embarrassing.]

Er, sorry, I thought you were someone else.

[aerialassault]

...

[Cliff frowned, embarrassed both for himself and for the young man in front of him.]



It's whatev. 's not the first time I've heard something like that today.

[sewdamncute]

Er, I don't usually make mistakes like that. Name's Kanji Tatsumi. What's yours?

[aerialassault]

[Cliff nodded sympathetically, understanding that particular little problem far too well himself.]



It's an easy enough mistake to make 'round here, Kanji. Don't worry about it, 'specially since nothing's normal here.

...would you believe me if I said that I normally don't look like this?

[sewdamncute]

After being here for a while, yeah, I can believe that. This place is fuckin' crazy.

[aerialassault]

[He chuffed in wry amusement.]



Yeah? You're telling me. One of the guys I met here and I thought we were married for a bit 'cause of the Shifts that hit us. That was interesting.

[A grin, and an offered hand.]

I'm not normally a girl either. Name's Cliff. Cliff Fittir.

[sewdamncute]

[That's a new one. But he slowly takes the hand and shakes it, awkwardly.]

You're a guy normally? I'm Kanji Tatsumi.

[aerialassault]

I did say I don't normally look like this.

[Cliff just grins, amused by the dumbfounded look on the young man's face.]



Just relax! It's not the weirdest thing that's happened here.

[sewdamncute]

Y-yeah, but you didn't say that the damned Malnosso changed your gender. That's a bit more than just lookin' differently, man.

[Although, the super relaxed way the "girl" handled herself made more sense. And, put Kanji at ease for some reason. Dudes he could handle. Girls just made him pretty fucking awkward. And he couldn't help that. At all.]

It is for me! Lost memories I can take. This [he waves his hand a bit] is outside the norm for me, okay?

[aerialassault]

[Hands on hips and shoulders thrown back, Cliff regarded the younger man with eyes that glittered with his irritation. Unfortunately, it wasn't nearly as intimidating a stance as it would have been were he not Shifted.]



You think it is for me? [A huff. Seriously...] It's hard enough to manage without getting fed up. I just know that I'm glad to be a person and not, say, a cat. That can happen too, yanno.

[sewdamncute]

[But most cats are small and cute. Kanji would be okay with that. Seriously. At least for a little bit. He likes being a dude though.]

Tch, man, these dudes are beggin' for an asskickin' if you ask me.

[aerialassault]

[Cliff liked being a dude too-- but, his biggest beef was being so short.]



Yeah, you're tellin' me. Been itchin' to clock 'em good for a while, but all I managed was to mess up some of their toys while I was out. It really burns, man.

[sewdamncute]

[Kanji couldn't even begin to think of how he would hate life if he switched with say... Rise. That would be awkward and nasty as hell for everyone involved.]

At least you got that.

[Now that he was talking to the "girl" more naturally, it was easier to look her over. And he frowned at her clothes.]

You know, that outfit ain't gonna be comfortable for any length of time. Especially in a fight.

[aerialassault]

[Running a hand through the long blue hair, Cliff groaned in frustration at the obviousness of the comment.]



It's already uncomfortable, and I can't reach anything like this! This girl that those guys made me look like-- she's important to me, but she's short!

[Translation: Maria was average height. Cliff was huge.]

[sewdamncute]

[Kanji nodded as he took a quick look at "Cliff's" body and then turned towards the racks of clothes. Yes, his cheeks were quite bright with a blush as he worked, but when he turned about around, he was holding about ten separate pieces of clothes the "girl" could wear.]

Take these. They'll work.

[aerialassault]

They...huh.

[Cliff took them into his hands, almost numb to the fact that they were meant for him while he thumbed through the hangers to examine each piece. After a moment he looked up, green eyes wide.]

...

You're good.