"Random" Encounters

"Well, yeah. You're a pretty smart cookie." What should she say? She really wanted to take Ryoko up on the offer, it sounded like a blast. Was it an actual offer though, or just her thinking out loud? If she jumped at it would she seem desperate for them to hang out? She didn't want to seem like a needy friend. "Sounds good." She tried to play it off as cool as she could. She wasn't sure about Sien though as her eyes drifted down to her bag. If the mad doctor ever showed up again she would need a new costume. Definitely a better set up with the goggles. If any of that happened.

She hadn't expected Ryoko to not only take her seriously about the ice cream, but be openly willing as well. She had been prepared to fight the girl in the streets to make a case about how they should go get some. The native was one step ahead of her... literally.  Alexa had started down the wrong path a bit when Ryoko beckoned her to follow, having to jog to catch herself back up. "Blue Seal? Is that a brand or a place?" She wouldn't protest being treated to ice cream, ever really. Most food tended to taste better when you weren't paying. She also was a bit tight on money at the moment, having had some unnecessary expenses in the trials and tribulations that were becoming an super villain.

Alexa's pace slowed as Ryoko rained down compliments at her, cheeks taking on a bright red hue. She could feel the embarrassment on her, looking around cautiously to make sure nobody was around to see it. She couldn't even look the other woman in the eyes, whining softly "Sthaaaaap." She had the spontaneous urge to bury her head in something. Her palms had been the convenient choice but sadly taken. Despite the encouraging nature, it made her even more self aware and critical of how she performed tonight. "It's... easier to put on a good match when you're against someone else who is good, ya'know? Some people can just bring out your best."

”Both!” She shot her finger straight up, drawing some attention as they paraded into the busy streets. She didn’t much care. This was Tokyo, and they were near the Friction arena. People saw weirder stuff all the time. ”They ship their stuff out, but the best stuff is at the stuff. You’ll love it. My mentor used to take me here, sometimes. When I did well.”

Which wasn't nearly enough, couldn't lie.

Ryoko heaping praise of AJ was two-fold: she liked to build up her friends confidence, and she liked to see the way she reacted to it. The American was a natural teddy bear, always, but was exceptionally cute when she was embarrassed.

”I’ll  sthaaaaap telling you you’re awesome when you sthaaaaap being awesome.” She flicked her tongue out at AJ. ”And yeah,” She sped up, just enough so AJ couldn’t see how much her last comment made her smile. ”Totally agree. Some people just have that way about them. You find the right person at the right time, and they just kind of...unlock you.” She nodded. ”Yeah. That’s a good word for it.”

"Oh." She chirped with a laugh. "I'm going to need some recommendations of some of the local flavors." She paused, not sure if that was a pun or not. "Mentor?" She mulled over Ryoko's use of the word mentor, not sure if she was using it correctly. For all she knew she meant something like a sports coach or teacher. When she played soccer they sue to get pizza when they won a game on the coach, so it made sense to her.

She tucked her phone away, groaning at Ryoko's unrelenting assertion she was awesome. She stopped protesting and just turned her head with a defeated huff. "Rude." Was all she had to say on that, smiling a bit out of view. It was nice having someone who believed in you. Lord knows she wasn't doing herself any favors in that department.

Unlock you. That was an interesting take but she couldn't really argue. Her match with The Black Fang had been worlds different than her spars back home with the local talent. heck, even the spar she had with Tomoko a few weeks ago was nothing like what happened out there tonight. Had she gotten that much better? Did the crowds urge her on? Or had she been unlocked? Her brow furrowed as he pace slowed. Thinking too hard on what may have just been a passing comment. "Yeah..."

”Yeah, my mentor. She’s…” Ryoko chewed her lip, a little nervous, weaving a tale out of thin air. One of these days, she was going to have to sit down and map out whatever fake job she was supposed to have. AJ was nice enough, she never seemed to press her much on it, but sooner or later that was coming up.

”...a special person in my life. She’s really helped me through some stuff in my life.” She spoke quiet, in that serious way that didn’t invite more conversation. ”You’ll meet her someday. She’ll love you, trust me.”

That last statement was the truest thing she’d said all day, with the possible exception of what she said about AJ loving the ice cream.

She did. They both did. They managed to get to Blue Seal before closing time, which meant they had to eat on the go, but that was hardly a problem. There was something about eating a waffle cone full of Black Cherry ice cream, licking away it as she and AJ walked together down the street, that greatly appealed. That was the thing about about AJ, really. The more Ryoko talked to her, the more she wanted to talk to her. She had this pure way about her, this innocence that you so rarely came across in the wrestling world. In an industry that was overflowing with backstabbers and shady deals and way too many psychos, here was this nice, pure soul.

They reached AJ’s place right around the time Ryoko was putting the finishing touches on her cone, chomping away at the final scraps. The smell of ozone was hanging in the air, a big ran coming, nice and crisp. A good reason to hurry home, herself, but before that, she wanted to make a few things clear with AJ.

”Hey,” She leaned up against the steps leading up to AJ’s apartment. ”I know I kind of gush a lot, that’s just the fangirl in me talking. Knowing a wrestler like you, it’s just so cool. And all that stuff I say about you? I wouldn’t be saying it if I didn’t believe every single word.” She pointed her way for emphasis. ”Every. Single. One. You got me?”

"Ah!" She nodded, brightening up a bit with the air cleared that she hadn't misspoken. Still, very mysterious. She figured it had something to do with journalism, or an annalist of some kind. Ryoko cared herself pretty confident and spoke well. Better than Alexa could in her own native tongue if she was being honest with herself. She could see her easily as a hot shot reporter or news anchor... well, at least how things were done in the states, she had no clue about Japan. "Well, I look forward to meeting them, someday. Very ominous!"

Ryoko had talked the ice cream store up a good deal, as she tended to do with things she liked it seemed. When it came time to put Ryoko's money where Alexa's mouth was though plans had failed. She had wanted to be brave in the face of several of the more Japanese flavors. They had taken her by surprised by the bright colors but what they were made of turned her away. Yams, sweet potatoes, something called a shikwasa, which Ryoko let her know was a citrus fruit here in Japan.

It was a bit overwhelming. In the end she went half way into the strange land of Blue Seal ice cream and got herself tiramisu. She had never had an ice cream flavored after the desert, just the actual desert at fancy restaurants back home. She was a fan, despite not really caring for coffee on it's own. Her cone hadn't lasted nearly as long as Ryoko's, but the other woman hadn't been the victim of a single ice cream headache. Her hubris was truly her downfall when it came to food. Never really an elegant eater. She had tucked her napkin and small paper cone wrapper into her jacket pocket as they had made their way to Alexa's place. Ryoko had been nice enough to escort her home... which was good because she needed a guide to get back to familiar roads. She had been all smiles the way home as they chatted, gushing over wrestling and food mostly.

She had rattled her keys in her pocket, blindly feeling for her apartment one. Most which remained on the ring were useless here. Her car key, house key, the family storage unit, all back home in Boston. All she had thee days was one for her apartment and two for her bike chain lock... She really needed to put the spare someplace else. She lifted her head, pausing at the base of the stairs to look over at Ryoko. Her smile faded a bit, the seriousness in her tone made her assume something was wrong. The end of the journey would have been the perfect place to spring it too.

She half turned to peer at other woman as her fingers tightened around her keys. Her face flushed again, it was hard for it not to. It was easier to brush things off when it came from strangers, but she genuinely respected Ryoko. She wasn't sure if it went both ways, but she was certainly her best friend here in Japan... possibly in total to. Everyone back home had told her not to go. How it was a mistake. While she still kept in touch via email, she hadn't received one text or call. It was like when she left she walked out of their lives. Maybe she had?

Dammit Ryoko. She groaned softly, pressing her face down into her palm. Why;d she have to say that, so serious like that. She didn't want to cry, not again. Not in front of her friend. "I got you..." She huffed in frustration, rubbing at her face with the back of her jacket sleeve.

Was it too much? Maybe it was too much.

For ten seconds that passed like ten hours, Ryoko stood there with her gym bag slung on her shoulders and the ruins of an ice cream cone in her hand. She looked up at AJ, watching as her friend retreated into the little shell she liked to go into sometimes. Hiding the tears, the look in her eyes, everything. This was a woman whose feelings came out, whether she wanted them to or not. She was honest.

Unlike her best friend.

Ryoko chewed her lip for a moment, pondering a question that had became more and more serious when the week went on. It wasn’t like she was trying to deceive AJ. She’d said this was the way she wanted to play the whole superhero wrestler thing, and she promised herself that she would stick to it. Ryoko and the Black Fang were two different people. Like Batman, or Superman, or Wonder Woman when she was doing her Diana Prince thing.

All the same, it didn’t quite sit right with her, lying to her friend. She’d have to reveal it someday, or AJ would just find it out on her own. When would that be? Would she be mad? Would she understand?

Questions she’d have to answer one day. Just not today. Today was emotional enough.

She made her way up the steps, reached around AJ, and gave her a quick hug, just a little something to comfort her, before she backed and waved as she stepped away. ”Be seeing you around, AJ. Take care and sleep well.” With a wink, she put her hands in her pockets and started off down the street, feeling so alive despite all the aches across her body.

She hated getting overly emotional like this. It hadn't been this way whens he was younger. Things were so much more carefree then. No bills, no stress, no problem. She was something special when she was in high school. Not popular by any means, but during a rally? She might as well have been the team captain. A principal players for her school, of which some of the trophies she knew for a fact were in the display case outside the gymnasium. Sure it wasn't as impressive as the football ones... or the lacrosse ones... or the track ones... But she... her team earned them. When had everything become so complicated and sad?

She stiffened a bit with the hug, even if it had been a small gesture. She sniffed softly to glance back at Ryoko, smiling. "Yeah... I'll see'ya around... Thanks for the ice cream. We should do it again some time. Maybe?" She had a hopeful tone, a bit of her usual brightness was slowly returning despite the slight redness in her eyes.

She would watch Ryoko go with a smile, so charmed by the wink she would try to mimic the gesture, too late for it to be noticed however. With a soft sigh she'd watch her friend go, wishing they had spent a bit more time together. Watched a few more matches together and shared their thoughts. Next time. She turned to head up the stairs, accidentally whacking into the archway... her situational awareness had gone a bit wonky in her moment of tears. She brought a hand to her face, swearing softly. Her fingers probed her visage for a moment, fats at first but they slowed as she blinked. Leaning back with her neck craned, she saw Ryoko was already pretty far away.

"WAIT!" Alexa cried out, stumbling away from the stairs as the toe of one of her sneakers caught on the pavement. She took off in a full on run, causing Ryoko down. "I forgot something important!" How could she have done that. She had been presented with so many opportunities along the way. Each time it had just slipped her mind, too distracted by their conversation.

...holy crap, when was the last time Ryoko had hugged someone? She wasn’t the type for it, even at family gathering. People got all huggy, they left their smells with you, then you had to walk around all day with it. Ew. No.

With AJ, she just looked like she needed a hug, so Ryoko hugged her. Simple as that.

”Pfft!” She spun about and threw her hands up. ”’Maybe’ nothing. I, Ryoko Urameshi, am not going to rest until you, AJ Shay, find the perfect ice cream flavor. I’ll take you to every shoppe in Tokyo, if I have to. So count on it.”

She’d started walking backwards, then realized that was something of a mistake when she bumped into some poor lady taking her dog for a walk, and nearly sent the little mongrel off running. With that unfortunate mishap out of the way, she gave AJ a thumbs up and was about to go her way…

...before she heard a cry coming out from behind. Oh. Right. The mask. Almost forgot about that with everything that they’d done tonight, the whirlwind of emotions, all of it.

”Coming back!” She was quick to scoot her way back over, and came to a stop a few steps below AJ, looking up her with feigned surprise but real excitement. ”What’d you forget?”

Oh boy. She wasn't sure if it was the lingering effects of her match, all the walking, or the emotional drain but the run to catch back up to Ryoko left her huffing. She bent over, holding up a finger to request a moment. "I got you something eh heh... For... you know, being you." She set the paper bag down, digging through it. She had purposefully hidden the goggles just in case Ryoko happened to get a peek inside the bag at some point. This was going to be a great surprise after all. Had this been the way she wanted to give it to her? Not really. She should have done it at the ice cream shop but they ad been in such a hurry. "Close your eyes."

She shook the goggles free as she pulled them from the bag, checking to make sure Ryoko wasn't looking before slipping them the whole way out. She fidgeted, resituating how she stood and her posture. She had read up a bit, on respectful ways to do things in Japan. Thanks internet! It's how she learned about the proper way to bow, even that there was a certain way to present gifts, apparently? Had she not skimmed it all she might have known she was doing the bow incorrectly... but she tried. She bowed her head, presenting the goggles to Ryoko. They were exterior side up, red swirls prominent. "Okay... open."

She tilted her head a little bit despite how she was suppose to not actually look as she gave the items over. She really wanted to see her reaction. Alexa had thought long and hard over what to give Ryoko for being there for her this last week or so. Wrestling merch, tickets, gift cards. None of it seemed right, or special enough. She didn't want to just go through the motions. She wanted to give her something unique, one of a kind. And she had. The original goggles of a super villainess, signed by the triumphant heroine, specifically to Ryoko. She couldn't think of anything better.

After Ryoko's reaction, she'd turn the goggles over to display the autograph within, a message tailored to her, unknowingly to Alexa, by her. She would stretch her arms out a little more for her to take them. Standing upright again, she shoved her hands into her jacket pockets. A safe space. With a toss of her head she threw back her hair a bit, to keep herself from falling into the habit of chewing on one of those long frayed strands hanging down.

"I wanted to say something inspiring back to you, since you always hit me with that sort of thing... But I'm just not..." She shrugged her shoulders looking off to the side. "I couldn't really think of anything, or how to put it into words beyond just saying thank you." She glanced back at Ryoko from the corner of her eyes. "For believing in me, for listening to all my stupid problems... for being my tour guide and translator... for the ice cream and the laughs... " She rocked from heel to toe on her sneakers before finally turning to look back to the other girl with a smile, which worked its way into a grin. "Thank you for... Just for being you."

‘Close your eyes’, she said.

The weird thing about this? It wasn’t just the fact that she was going to receive a present that she already knew about beforehand. She could fake her way through that easy enough. It wouldn’t even be the hardest thing she’d done this night, and she was willing to put in the effort to get this far.

No, the weird thing here was that, despite that, she was still excited. Still happy for it. It was like she was linking with AJ and feeding off her energy, using it to bolster her own giddiness. The infection was spreading at a rapid pace, now.

Despite the fact that she shouldn’t have been surprised, the was precisely what happened the moment she opened her eyes. Not at the goggles, but at the posture AJ had taken on. A little rough, yes, not the work of someone it came to from years of practice, but an acceptable presentation, and definitely not something Ryoko had shown her before. No, this was something her friend learned all on her own. Just for her. Just to get this right. Somehow, that alone meant as much as the goggles themselves.

She took them with a nod of her own, completing the cycle. ”AJ, I am going to treasure these until the day I die. Thank you.”

That was the most honest thing she’d said all day.

She stood there, waiting with a smile, as her friend did her best to get the words. Public speaking was not a strong suit of the Mighty AJ Shay, but she made do, and the point got through well enough. ”Me is all I know how to be.” She shrugged and took a step back, admiring the goggles, already thinking about where she should hang them in her apartment.


After a moment of thought, she held up her fist. ”Okay, your turn to show me something. Pretty sure this is how you guys set up for fist bumps in the movies, right?” Maybe a little further out? Closer in? She tried both out before deciding on the middle ground. ”We’ve got to come up with a special handshake. But this can do for now.”