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{Bobbi .:. Red Rose .:. Men's Baths}

"Yeah, Shiva has been acting like my Voice of Reason," Bobbi admitted. "Only here, she doesn't have to offer any pick-me-ups when I start feeling worthless. 'Cause, you know, I'm actually making a difference here. It's... nice. I'm not just one puny voice in millions that won't ever amount to anything."

She thought back to everything that had happened in the last week, and grinned a little with pride. If anyone had told her a week ago she'd be running around with a bunch of Earth refugees in a magically conglomerated Disney world with some Final Fantasy mixed in for some spice, fighting off Heartless and villains, and generally being the heroine of a video game, she'd have wondered why the hell they weren't sharing their drugs. Or, you know, turned around and walked away, leaving the crazy person to their crack.

"It's nice having some impact, you know? Sure, we may make mistakes, God knows we aren't infallible. And yeah, people have been hurt or... or lost, but at least none of it is being wasted. We're all working to something important, maybe even some sort of Glorious Destiny or something cliche like that. But every person, every action, everything we say or do or think is making a noticeable difference in the world, and more often than not, it's a positive difference. It may not look like it now, 'specially not here from the front lines, but we are. It's amazing! Here I always thought I'd grow old and die never amounting to anything more than one more name in the credits at the end of a video game or movie. And yet, here we are, saving the world."

Bobbi realized she'd been rambling, and let herself shut her trap. After a moment, though, she had to laugh a little at herself. She didn't usually go off on Grand Speeches like that, and was glad for the concealing curtain so Joe couldn't see her embarrassed flush. She certainly seemed to be blushing a lot lately.

{Bobbi .:. Red Rose .:. Men's Baths}

There wasn't much Bobbi could say in response. She wasn't sure what to make of Joe's tone of voice, and decided to just leave him to his thoughts.

One of these days I'll learn how to shut up, she thought as she reached for some shampoo. It was the same general scent as the soap, which on one hand was nice because she was less likely to be told she smelled like a fruit basket, but on the other hand was generally disappointing because she liked smelling like a fruit basket. Well, whatever, clean was clean, that's all she cared about. She ducked her head under the water to get all of her hair wet, and when she came back up squeezed a generous amount of the shampoo onto her hand, enough to get a nice, good lather going. It only took her a moment to pile her waist-length hair on top of her head and start scrubbing.

She didn't realize just how vigorous her scrubbing was until she slowed down and was able to open her eyes, and saw the suds splattered all over the wall next to the tub.

"Pfft, hahahah, my suds made a smiley face," she giggled, and ducked under for a rinse.

[ Kyle : Red Rose : Training Room ]

"Nope," Kyle immediately responded, which should have been the first clue that he was lying. After all, most people would have asked 'heard what' first.

"Oh, and be sure to bring along any of the- ah- non-Earthlings," he sent after Matthew. "The more potential we have, the better."

"So, Dawn, what's this about guinea pigs?" he asked, turning to face her with a small grin.

[Kyla: Red Rose: Girls Bathing chambers]


“Thanks Jenny- that was more practical then what I had in mind.” Kyla smile a bit meekly, her eyes down cast. She turned to her side and reaching up to the personal cabinet beside Dani’s selected she found her discarded dressphere and placed it back in its position on Dani’s form.

Instantly the girl was redressed and dry again thanks to its magic, and she did the same ot herself, placing her dressphere at her color bone and allowing the enchanted fabric re-materialize around her naked form once more. How was it possible that she felt MORE dry, then when she first arrived?
“I’ll take her to her room, I’m sure the sleeping quarters are not far.” Kyla said, this part with a bit of firmness to it. She seemed determined to do something. Maybe she was trying to do something to make up for taking part in such a petty argument in the first place.

“..mm sorry.” She mumbled under her breath as she gathered the other girl up into her arms with some difficulty, but out of sheer will, and perhaps a lot of guilt she somehow managed to lift Dani up and begin carrying her out of the bathroom chambers.

“- please enjoy your baths ok?” she asked, putting on a smile for them as she left. Kyla realized how the peaceful aura of the room was ruined, the only way to return things to normal was leave on a smile, and remove her offending presence so they could relax again.
Besides, she was just too embarrassed to stay.

When she left through the doors she heard the message over charms and decided she would visit this person later.

[Kyla: Red Rose: Hallways> Sleeping Quarters]


Having spent the night on the Red Rose before, Kyla remembered the way back to the sleeping quarters well enough. Once she got back to the appropriate room she pushed it adjar and shifted inside, lumbering around ackwardly with the other girl in her arms.

“grr- guys…always make.. this look..so..EASY!”

With that loud huff she lowered Dani onto her bed and let out a long sigh of relief. She stood over her for a moment, eyes contemplative and somewhat sorrowful.

“…so I’m not a good friend huh?...” she said into the silence.

“..I didn’t think so either.”

~ That’s not true- Kyla you’ve come so far! Don’t listen to what she said she’s was just tired, and didn’t- ~


‘- It’s not that Tyue. It’s me. You felt it right? That anger, I never realized how much pride I had, and how easy it was to provoke me when my intelligence is being challenged... or mocked. It’s a bad trait to have, and dangerous one too.’

Reaching for the blankets Kyla pulled them up and over the girl’s body right up to her shoulders and watched as the dressphere changed to compensate for situation and altered into the sleepwear version of Dani’s outfit. Once she was sure everything was in order and Dani was comfortable Kyla crossed the room to leave.

“I’m really messed up. And now Jenny, Noelle Demyx and John think I’m a real snobby person now. I suppose I’m not supposed to care about what others think but…” She looked back at Dani, “-how can they trust me in a fight?”

She closed the door and stood there for a moment in the hallway fingering her hair. She noticed it still felt a bit greasy. Understandably too, because she only got a to soak- her hair barely got wet, and she certainly didn’t use any soap in it before all this nonsense broke out. She STILL needed a bath, because the dressphere didn’t cover her hair completely. But she couldn’t just go back- not to that mess of a scene. So then what?

What could she do? In all honesty Kyla just wanted to crawl under a rock, disappear, be someone else.




…be someone else?

{Genesis : Land of Dragons : Bamboo Thicket}

Genesis looked at the curious creatures that surrounded him briefly. They did not seem like much. However, there were strength in numbers, enough of anything could potentially be a threat. He smirked at her comment regarding the wing, he didn't care for it, though it had it's uses.

"A pleasure to meet you as well Dusk. A name fitting of one who walks in the darkness such as yourself. As for my purpose here, I was simply wandering when I decided to follow the darkness that I sensed nearby. What of you? Why are you here?" he asked, redirecting her own question back at her out of curiosity.

{Leon : Red Rose : Bridge -> Training Room}

Leon's attention turned from the sky which they now soared through to Riku as he mentioned one of the Earthlings being able to copy abilities. To say the least, the gunblader was curious about this power as he had never heard of such a thing before. He simply followed Riku and Cloud out of the bridge and toward the training room.

"Any help these kids can get from us is worth it," Leon stated more to himself than any of the others.

{Auron : Red Rose : Lounge -> Training Room}

Auron's attention turned to Sora as he mentioned one of the earthlings being able to learn abilities. He simply nodded and stood up, slinging his blade onto his shoulder and followed the others.

[Kyla: Red Rose: Dani’s Quarters> Halls> Men’s Bathing Chambers]


It seemed like the perfect time to try it. If it worked, she could save face and enjoy a bath in a new setting.

The processes was simple- draw your original target or subject, then trace the outline of the new image and or alterations overlapping it.
Fuse some mana to the illusion structure, like lining threads through fabric- and voala!
Ok it was a bit more complex then that; essentially the illusion fell over her true form like a blanket being pulled over her head. Kinda like some magical costume!

She couldn’t truly manipulate her matter- and why would she want to?! Good grief that would be a nightmare! She was already experimenting with hearts, or soon will be- the first nasty sign you’re turning into an evil genius would be self experimentation right?

Ok so maybe this still counted- but nothing was actually being messed with physically! That was Kyla's story and she was sticking to it!

When she finished the book exploded and what seemed like hundreds of pages scattering around her. They swarmed all over her body like angry bees! They clung to every inch and once she was covered from head to toe they seemed to evaporate! Leaving behind a new figure.
From the inside Kyla felt the same, she felt everything that was her- was still there, but to her naked eye...
She looked completely different!
Well... different in the way that mattered.

“..woah…ok- just simmer down, let’s see how I do.”

And with that little pep talk done, Kyla left Dani’s room on route to the bathing chambers. She walked swiftly, trying avoiding being seen possibly by other crew in case it would start a panic- and to her relief she found her way back to the bathing chambers. This time the artist took a turn to the other side and entered the Men’s Bathing chambers instead!


---


The sound of tapping bare feet announced the new person’s arrival to those inside. If they looked up, they would see a shorter stature youth, lithe frame with long brown hair tied in a low braid enter the bathing chambers somewhat hesitantly. As he removed his dressphere he was left bare for a few moments until he got a towel around his hips.

When he caught himself in a mirror he froze for a moment and examined himself curiously. “huh-…I didn’t really give into account muscle mass… I suppose it translated over well enough.” He muttered. His voice was too low to discern the tone, but though it seemed lowered it distinctly sounded a bit higher than most male voices.

He inspected himself a moment longer before pulling away with a satisfied look on his face, then turning towards the bathing tubs he suddenly noticed Joe and Bobbi were there.

He seemed nervous suddenly and timidly padded over to one of the tubs and began to run the water as he sat on the edge. All the while he tried not make eye contact just yet.
If one took a close inspection of this young man, they’d notice something very familiar about some of the features, especially the large eyes revealed behind a pair of spectacles he set aside on the counter top.

[???:Red Rose: Men's Bath]

'Dangit Joe and you're Gaydar!'

The guys voice seemed to crack like he suddenly hit puberty or something- which wasn't too hard to imagine since he looks fairly young.. a bit fair of face actually, and was quite short on the scale as far as men were concerned.

"I..I err...mmm- I I dunno what-" He seemed babbly and again avert his gaze.
He stared into the water like it was THE most interesting thing in the world.
Bobbi didn't seem to care so maybe he could still get away with it.


If not for a few seconds longer.