The Roof, Tuesday Evening

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo hadn't actually realized that there were stairs up to the roof. She'd contemplated trying to get up to it via ATs, but just walking was so much easier. Not that that was going to stop her from trying the harder route some day.

The first thing she'd done once she got to the top of the dorms was walk a slow circuit, looking out over the island. It was a bit weird to realize that she was at one of the higher spots on the island, especially when she was used to Tokyo, but she couldn't deny that the view was spectacular. She felt like she could see so much from this height. And the wind tugging at her hair felt amazing.

After a careful circuit to take a look around, Ringo stepped up to the very edge and spread her arms wide. Head back, eyes closed, just feeling the wind's fingers tugging at her. It was a softer, gentler sensation than the pull of the wind during an especially aggressive ride. Almost like a light, playful dance instead of the exultant fight she was used to.

That discovery led to another: she was probably going to be up here a lot more often from now on.

[Open!]

Comments

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo was nodding along enthusiastically. "Yes."

She was beaming. "Now we just have to decide which of the two we should do first!"

[that_oldsaying]

Um. Um.

Alluka looked at Ringo. "Which do you think is better?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"They both sound awesome to me." Ringo giggled at the question and squeezed the hand she still held. "If you don't care either way, it's probably easier to organize a shopping trip first, since it involves fewer people."

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka loved that she got to hold Ringo's hand. It made her whole day better.

"And...," she hesitated, "we could get ideas for decorations, if we went shopping right?"

Right? That was a thing you could do while shopping?

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Great idea!" Ringo exclaimed, beaming over at Alluka. "While we're out, we might as well. It's like killing two birds with one stone."

She grinned. "We can also use the shopping trip to do some planning. You know, talk about the menu and so on."

An excellent idea, indeed!

[that_oldsaying]

She nodded happily.

"I, I think we should do it that way, if that's okay?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Very okay." Ringo tried to infuse her voice with assurance, wondering if she could do anything to decrease Alluka's hesitance. The girl seemed clever, if sheltered, and didn't need to check in about every decision.

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka beamed at the reassurance and confirmation.

"I can't wait to do this!"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Then we'll have to do it soon!" Ringo responded, a giggle bubbling up through her voice.

[that_oldsaying]

"Are there people you want to invite?" Alluka asked, giggling as well. "Is it only girls?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo laughed. "I think most of them are already on your list," she declared. "But I shall think on it. Maybe I'll come up with some more!"

She pursed her lips. "And what do you think? It might be fun to do a girls-only dress-up party. If the boys want to have one of their own, they can!"

[that_oldsaying]

"I don't know," Alluka said, all big eyes and confusion. "What if Anders is sad he can't come to my party?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Hmmm." That was a good question.

"I suppose we could invite some boys. If we want to." She grinned suddenly. "I mean, it is our party. We can invite whoever we want!"

[that_oldsaying]

"Aren't there rules for parties?" Alluka asked, a little bit puzzled. "In stories, there's always a lot of rules for who can be invited and who gets to sit where and everything."

That would be because Alluka read a lot of princess-y stories. Yes.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Well, it is true that there are rules. But." Ringo leaned in close, her voice dropping low. "The secret is that the rules get decided by whoever's hosting the party."

"And guess who that is?"

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka giggled, her eyes flickering to Ringo's face, then down to her giraffe's and back again.

"You?" she guessed.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo rolled her eyes fondly. "No, silly. Us."

[that_oldsaying]

"I'd be a host too?" she asked, surprised.

It wasn't like Alluka had ever hosted anything before, after all!

Well, other than her parties for her toys. But that wasn't the same has having real people around!

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Well, it was your idea," Ringo reminded her with a smile. "So you can help plan it out."

She paused, a thought occurring to her. "Well, um, unless you don't want to." She didn't want to make Alluka do anything she didn't want.

[that_oldsaying]

"I want to, I want to, I want to!" Alluka said happily, and Ringo was going to get a hug now, yes. "I just don't want to get in the way!"

[soniaroadsqueen]

The hug surprised Ringo. It probably shouldn't have, but it did. Ringo didn't get a lot of hugs. But that wasn't going to stop her from hugging Alluka right back, and laughing.

"You won't be." She grinned in reassurance. "In fact, I'm sure you'll be a big help!"