Omen From Above! HG Meet Up!

[Kami-Gaz]

“You hear that, Franks? You’re doing well!” Lee spoke out loud so Ridley could hear her. “Keep it up and you’ll be able to look people in the eye!” The alter ego added with a bravado and confidence as she jibed at her alternate self, playfully pointing out a flaw that Frankie could work on as part of her self-confidence gig.

“Lee~!” Frankie whined softly, taking back the lead as a sniffle and a tear came forth. There was nowhere else to go, she had slid so deep into the chair that she was nearly under the table. The only thing to do was to use Ridley’s Jacket as a cover to hide her face some more. It felt right to hide and feel small, like a misshapen insect that no one wanted to see.

“A-a P-pipsi please.” She spoke quietly from the wrapped safety of the oversized jacket that just so perfectly hid the monstrous face from the world, her alien eyes poking out of the shadows to witness what was going on. A Pipsi sounded great! It was no Professor Salt, but it would still remind her of her home.

‘Why not ask for a Professor Salt?’ Lee asked internally, it was a valid question and in the soft drink wars of Water7 it was one that could cause some great debate among the populace. At least there was no Hill Dankness… that just tasted like sweat with a tinge of lemon. She always imagined it would be what a devil fruit tasted like.

“Because I don’t want to make the waitress go out of her way.” She whispered to herself in reply, she wasn’t worth making people go out of their way to do things for her. Even if that person is paid to do so. Frankie was just so insignificant and pathetic compared to the world and all these normal people who didn’t get bullied by an alternate persona.

[Fox]

Ridley chucked at Blair’s excitement as he reiterated the names of the foods that he wanted. His heart felt warm but a little sad. He patted Blair on his head. Blair used to be a person with his own goals, memories, hopes, and dreams. Maybe a family. And then it had all been taken away. Even his mind had been taken. He was… much better than when Ridley had found him, but… It made him more than a little sad.

“Yes, I am,” he said warmly, moving his hand from Blair’s head, and glancing over to Frankie as she fumbled with the menu. Ridley nodded to help confirm what Lee had said to Frankie. “And yes, you’re doing great. Let me know if you need me to help you with ordering at all, okay?”

Frankie didn’t seem to take it the best, a tear coming to her eye and sliding back in her chair. She asked for her drink, and Ridley felt immensely proud of her for managing to come out of her shell enough to speak to a stranger. She was whispering something to herself, but Ridley couldn’t quite catch it. He reached out and patted her on her head gently.

“It’s going to be alright, Frankie, okay? If things get too tough, you can lean on me if you need it. Every little step you take is amazing. I’m really proud of you both.”

Ridley smiled at the two of them - and Lee. As he did, the waitress quickly returned with their drinks and the pizzas. He gave the waitress a nod of thanks and picked up a slice of Blair’s pizza, pantomiming how to eat it before handing the slice over to him.

“Like this. Got it? How’s yours, Frankie? Lee?”

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Ridley | #800080 | Post Count: 11

[Sam]

Blair waited for his meal swaying side to side. Just because he had to wait didn’t mean he had to stay still. If anything he was feeling super impatient with the meal wait time. But! He had to be good. For Ridley’s sake. Blair huffed and gently put his face on the table while Ridley spoke to this new girl that had joined them. The one who’d shot slime at him. Blair gave her a side eye, his face still planted on the table. That is when the scent of pizza wafted his nose, in an instant the verdant haired man raised his head up in interest.

“P-pizza?”

He forced out as he stared at Ridley motioning the way to eat it. Blair tilted his head curiously and then looked all around himself the way people ate it was the same. Truthfully he just wanted to scarf it down. But something subconscious told him that was wrong. The meaty slice now in his plate Blair stared at it. The warm greasy scent was oddly familiar to him. He inspected the cheese covered bread with various kinds of meat topping it. With his left hand he reached out and bit into the pizza slice just how Ridley had taught him. The flavor went off in his tongue as he was transported once more to the past.

There he was again, Blair, himself. This time staring at the mirror of a public restroom its dank smell resonating in his mind. The man who stared back at him. It was him. But different. Younger… but not that much younger… clean… and put together. He took a deep breath before walking out of the bathroom and walking through a fancy restaurant with plaid tablecloths and wooden chairs. Walking through the labyrinthian place he finally made it to a table where a young woman he’d seen before with his mind's eye sat. Friend. His friend. The girl with the red hair and freckles.

“Oh hey Blair! They brought spaghetti and pizza while you were away!”

She said in a chipper tone and a smile. Blair sat down looking at the pizza on the table not too different from the one he was eating. The same smell. At that moment he felt it again. The warm and safe feeling he’d felt back in the reedbed. Who was this girl? She was a friend but… who? Where? Whoever she was, maybe she’d have answers about him. But it wasn’t like he could communicate this or understand this at all. Blair looked down at his pizza and what he was chewing. Still paralyzed by his memory and in disbelief of the reality which materialized around him.

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Blair | (Post Count: 11)