{2nd Clow Card; username:sakurakinomoto; text;}

[keystaff]

[It hurts. Too much to try use the video option. Or even audio. But. Well, she figures others should know. In case they might have been wondering, where Fai and Kurogane were. There is also the matter of housing now, whether she can still afford these rooms herself with what she has been given from ALASTAIR.]

I just thought everyone should know, in case they weren't aware already but. Fai-san and Kurogane-san have been sent on a different mission. I'm sorry if they had any plans with anyone. If they did, I could try help instead?

I should probably check and see how much this place is or if I need to find somewhere else to stay. I was just helping with the dishes, some cooking and cleaning for Fai-san and Kurogane-san in exchange before and they didn't mind. But I'm sure it'll be okay!

[She really didn't do this for pity. More so everyone could be aware their number is lower. She's not used to asking for help, but she will if she has to. Knows she needs to sometimes. And this is more advice as well, really. She's never had to consider accommodation herself after all. Sorting that out on her own.]

Comments

[keystaff]

Oh, now? I guess I could. Yes!

[grunehexe]

then I shall make my way there as well.

[ooc: a- action?]

action;

[keystaff]

See you there soon!

[The square isn't hard to find, at least. Being fairly central, all of them, so Sakura doesn't have any trouble navigating, besides having been here and explored for a good couple of months or so by now. She's still a bit down, but the idea of meeting with a friend, having so many offering to help her if she needs it, gives her the pep she needs. That reassurance.

It's why she doesn't appear quite so glum and worried, once the other arrives too, greeted with a small smile and a wave.]

action;

[grunehexe]

[Sieglinde has yet to master the wave, though she knows it's meaning by now. There's a glitch of a moment when she comes into view where she just stares at Sakura before jerkily moving her hand up in a flurry of black lace and heavy sleeve to wave in return.

Though she was equally excited to meet the other, in a sort of innocent joy she couldn't explain at just seeing a girl her own age in person, she cannot speed up her steps to do so faster. (Normally this would remind her, depress her- but the drive she has to interact with others of her sort thankfully cancels it out in this instance.). Instead, she just furrows her brow and concentrates, mincing in a swaying sort of walk on too small feet and ungainly balance until she could speak without raising her voice.]

Well met, Sakura!

action;

[keystaff]

[Sakura doesn't mind if Sieglinde is a little slower with her particular outfits or shoes. Or simply her feet. Either way, what matters is that she gets there to meet the other at all and they enjoy this time together. So she gives a wave and helps her find a seat.]

It has been rather busy. Some people I've not had as much chance to catch up with. But it's good to see you again!

action;

[grunehexe]

[The seat Sieglinde takes gratefully, scrambling into it and fluffing out her heavy skirts, unable to totally still the excitement that has her tiny feet kicking just slightly, sending the green ribbons on her legs fluttering gaily in time to her movements.]

I agree- I am glad to find you well.

[And glad to provide company. She knew just as well what it was like to be alone to stew in her thoughts, and it never did improve a mood.]

Are you hungering for something in particular?

[Having only recently realized how different the cuisine of the outside world could be (tacos...), she's admittedly curious.]

action;

[keystaff]

Anything in particular? Oh. Not really. I hadn't quite looked at the menu or asked about any specials just yet. I figured I would be sure you were here too, when I did.

[She explains as she ensures the other is seated before sitting down herself once more and actually looking at the options. Of course she shouldn't be surprised that the food might be more along the lines of western dishes or the like, in comparison to her own Japanese fare she's used to. Which isn't a bad thing, just means she isn't quite as sure what to make of it as she reads through the menu.]

Um....maybe these 'tacos'?

[grunehexe]

[Sieglinde had grown up eating whatever she wanted- with servants to prepare things for her, and having lived her entire life in an isolated village...

She didn't exactly know how a restaurant really worked. A menu... specials...

Not wanted to be caught not knowing something, she tried to play it cool, looking over at what Sakura was doing to copy the other girl.]

Ah... just looking at the menu, of course-

[keystaff]

Of course. Take your time. I'm sure the staff will be here soon to take our order. I hadn't looked at the drinks yet myself.

[So she isn't quite yet ready either, still reading through that particular section of the menu when the waiter comes over and asks what they would like, if they are ready to order. Sakura orders the tacos and a drink of orange juice.]

What about you?

[grunehexe]

[What exactly was "orange juice", anyway? In the depths of a German forest in a time before imports... Sieglinde has never before had an orange. Or a citrus fruit of most any kind, really... There were so many options she didn't understand, and it made her head spin-]

I will have the same!

[Announced as if that was just happenstance, but. It seemed the easiest way to get out of the confusion.]

[keystaff]

[The wait staff gives a nod, noting the order and taking their menus from them before leaving to convey it to the cook. Sakura herself simply thanks him and manages a small smile.]

I hadn't been here before yet. I'm sure it'll be nice once it arrives though! Thank you for this.

[grunehexe]

[With that first hurdle conquered, Sieglinde sits back in her seat, making herself more comfortable and folding her hands in her lap as she tried to relax... but couldn't.]

It is I who must be thanking you- it is my first time to dine with another like myself!

[Another girl her age, she meant.]

[keystaff]

Eh? Really? But Tomoyo-chan and I would have sleepovers and hang out after school all the time, if we didn't have practice or choir. That must have been lonely. This will definitely be special for you then!

[Of course, Sakura being Sakura, she's focusing on the first. On the positive, the hope of making Sieglinde's experiences fun and memorable somehow, as she shifts in her seat to get comfortable, before replying.]

[grunehexe]

Who is "Tomoyo"? A friend of yours?

[If really did sound delightful... Being able to fall asleep after having fun with a friend instead of being tucked in and left in the dark alone... Considering she had invited the other girl out to get her mind of things, she tried to focus on "fun" topics herself- which wasn't hard considering how thrilled she was just to be there.]

What do you do for a "sleepover"?

[keystaff]

Yes! Tomoyo-chan is a friend of mine from school. Well, we're actually also cousins. Her mother is my mother's sister. What you do with a sleepover is you stay the night at each other's house! We can bring snacks and music to listen to and stuff. Spending the night being together and talking about all sorts of things!

[Lately when this has happened, it's been the Clow Cards under discussion, really. But even so.]

[grunehexe]

[It sounds... Amazing. So Sakura had a relative near her own age- who was also a friend! And they spent time together closely, like sisters, enjoying music, food, and conversation... It sounded so very refined to Sieglinde, who had no ability to picture a modern sleepover, but.]

And you also go to "school"? What do you do there? Are you tutored?

[She has no basis to imagine what a large public school was like, trying to picture her own lessons as a child but, with more children?]

[keystaff]

School is where we have classes and learn things, yes! I guess a teacher is like a tutor? It's just not quite as individual at school, because we have classes with lots of other kids, not just the teacher focusing on us one on one as it probably is with home schooling.

But my favourite is probably P.E - when we get to play sports and gym and stuff. And music! Though I'm not as good at that as Tomoyo-chan. She's a really good singer!

[Sakura tries to explain, thanking the wait staff in the middle of it when they bring the drinks and inform the girls their food won't be far away. Taking a sip from her orange juice eagerly.]

[grunehexe]

[So it was a single tutor for many children at once... very effective, perhaps, to teach everyone at once. Though her village had only one child, and that had been her.

She nodded along, completely ignoring her drink for the moment in favor of the interesting concept of school.]

- you play games at school instead of learning?

[Wait, didn't that take time away from lessons? (But it sounded fun.)]

[keystaff]

Well, the games come under our learning, for P.E - er, physical education! But there's also some sports practice like my cheerleading that we have games and practice for after school classes finish in the afternoon.

[It's part of their lessons, one of them in particular. And it is fun, there's a reason Sakura's favourite is P.E, and not just because she's so athletic but it's always good to get outside! She's never really had to explain this, but she figures it seems the other is getting the idea, at least.]

[grunehexe]

["Physical education"... "cheerleading"... these were all words that didn't quite make sense to Sieglinde- and she wasn't the type to hold back on her questions.]

What is this "cheerleading"?

["Physical education" she could better grasp just from the words- and she remembered her drink, finally, taking a quick sip.]

[keystaff]

It's when we get together and cheer our school on, usually with sports. We use batons or pom poms and get our school excited and wanting our team to win. Though we haven't got to the more complicated stuff like flipping or making pyramids with each other yet.

[She's not sure how to explain it, has never actually had to. But this is part of the fun and challenge of being together from such different worlds, or different times, really.]

[grunehexe]

[Pom poms escape her, but she does at least understand this explanation a bit better. Enough to nod along, having come up with an image in her head that was... rather incorrect, but at least along the right lines.]

So you bolster the spirits of athletes- I see. That must be a rather envied position.

[Mainly because she was imagining the ancient Roman version of the Olympics when it came to athletes...]

[keystaff]

I'm not sure if I'd know if anyone was really jealous. I don't think so. But I guess you seem to have the idea of it at least. I haven't had to explain some of this before, so I hope I do okay. Things like school, my magic....I hadn't had to explain or answer questions about that sort of thing.

[Well, not outside her brother and father, her classmates asking how she did in tests or the like. Still, it's obvious she is still a little sheepish, as she sips her drink and then tries some of the taco once that arrives. After staring at it for a little before she thinks she gets the idea of it.]

[grunehexe]

Ah.

[That wasn't the first time she heard that. Sieglinde frowned slightly and took a sip of her drink- paused, blinking at the taste, then took another one.]

- My village was... very remote. Very few people in ALASTAIR seem to have lived in a similar way.

[She'd had to ask. A lot of questions.]

[keystaff]

Well, that isn't so surprising. People were brought here by ALASTAIR from all sorts of different places, different worlds and times. But they seem to bring in more sometimes. So maybe others will show up that have more similar experiences to you. But I'll do my best if you have any more questions!

[She gives a reassuring smile as she samples the food and has another sip of her drink. It's pretty good! Just different to what she is used to back home.]