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Post by ricochet-Stacy on Apr 6, 2022 8:17:34 GMT
Stacy felt relieved that Kai was willing to accept her help. Stacy gently supported the teen as much as she could given that she was not physically very strong. The pair made their way to the street and towards the coffee shop and it was good that the shop was not all that far or Stacy wouldn't of known how to help Kai.
Soon the pair made it to the small but humble coffee place Stacy was just at a short time ago and Stacy helped Kai to a seat at a table before sitting in a seat herself setting her mostly finished coffee down on the table. Then she began cleaning the raindrops from the plastic framed blue glasses before putting them back on happy to be able to see properly again.
Then Stacy picked up a sound from Kai in the form of the disturbance of the teen's breathing and became worried. Doing the best she could to handle eye contact she looked at Kai and asked "Hey there, Kai, are you alright? Your breathing doesn't sound all that good." While Stacy knew there were many reasons for such a breathing pattern from things less severe like mild anxiety to potentially major health concerns. Sometimes she cursed herself for her social awkwardness as well as often being as blunt as a baseball bat.
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Post by Kai Aizawa on Apr 7, 2022 2:15:17 GMT
"Ye- yeah... Sorry. I'm fine, just, a little out of it, it's fine, I'm fine..." Kai said after she heard the older woman ask her if she was okay. She would start to figure out that Kai was not alright by the erratic behavior of her breath. Kai would try her best to keep it regulated. Her eyes were down low out of the light as she felt ready to just fall apart, she felt a hefty tension in her thought. Part of her wanted to get herself committed to a psychiatric hold but she knew against all else she was quite sane, just a little justifiably paranoid.
"It's just been, a long few days. Just gotta lock it in, forget it, then focus on the next day, then the next..." She said as she survived by trying to see the next days out then address her issues. She was raised in an environment where if her problems couldn't be solved on her own in a day, they were to be minimized, compartmentalized, and shelved to prevent harm. "After all, if little time passed in this world, I got a lot to get together and done. Just, gotta sleep it off and get a head start early on." She said as she was trying to rely on focusing on what has to be done next to ignore the stress induced symptoms of her body.
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Post by ricochet-Stacy on Apr 7, 2022 4:56:25 GMT
When Kai said she was a little out of it but fine, Stacy looked at the teen with doubt as Kai didn't look nor sound fine. Though she didn't want to upset the teen she knew she had to at least say something. Her protective nature had demanded it so she asked "Are you sure, Kai? Cause if you need medical attention I can always call for an ambulance."
After listening to Kai for a little bit more, Stacy said "While I may not be an expert on this subject I think locking the issue away doesn't sound very healthy. I have been through a lot in my life and trust me the issues that tend to arise later do to doing such a thing isn't worth the trouble of suppressing it." Yes Stacy knew all too well that the damages the caused more stress and pain in the long run so the forty year old woman was beginning to think Kai's issues might of been more along the lines of stress induced that actually being ill or injured.
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Post by Kai Aizawa on Apr 7, 2022 5:33:01 GMT
"I, don't need an ambulance, and what works for me works. I just, work through it. Isn't that what people should do? Not toil in their own stress or put it on others. My parents always taught me that, my mother was always busy with her parties and my father with his work, until recently, now that he's, moreso worried about staying alive in prison." Kai said as she felt there was no use hiding it at this point. She was trying to keep herself up, keep her spirits up, but at this point it was like trying to stay awake while running through a dense fog at times.
"Just, need to get by, get to the next project after a bit of sleep and it'll all be fine again, always worked before." She said almost like it was just clockwork, trying her best to believe the words, but she herself was not willing to admit she was struggling. The radical shift in perspectives from what she learned earlier. She looked up at Stacy. "Even if they left me, I tossed them away, however you want to describe it, I still got a lot to live up to, just, got to get back to it at this point." She said as she was not realizing how afraid she was of dealing with her own emotions, how afraid she was to feel in front of others, how obsessed she was with her work. She was trying to figure out how to keep going. She was used to walking through pressure, but the pressure of dealing with a whole other world was proving to be more then enough to make her crack.
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Post by ricochet-Stacy on Apr 7, 2022 5:47:25 GMT
"Okay fair enough. I won't force the issue any further and you're right that people should work through their issues. Though I know from experience such a thing is not always straightforward." Stacy said raising her hands in a placating way. When Kai mentioned her father being in prison Stacy couldn't help but say "Wow. Your dad is in prison. So is mine but, to be honest, I'm not all that upset about that. Hell if he dies in there I wouldn't really miss him. I know it sounds mean but after he caused me so much mental distress all I can say is good riddance and I don't miss him one damn bit."
Stacy sat there awkwardly for a bit looking around before she asked "So do you want any coffee or something? Maybe that might help you out if only a little bit. I'm sorry I can be a bit socially awkward at times what with being a high functioning autistic and all." There were other issues she had but having autism was the least of her worries anyway.
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Post by Kai Aizawa on Apr 10, 2022 1:46:24 GMT
"Yeah, but I suppose your father isn't cursing his traitor daughter for putting him in jail is he?" Kai commented as she heard Stacy sympathize on the field of an incarcerated parent. She went to a support group once for kids with incarcerated parents, only to be singled out as the only one who put their parent in jail and was silently nudged out.
Kai remained silent as she would listen to Stacy's offer, and Kai did give it much thought at the moment. She would think it over carefully and start to think that what she could use at the moment was something to help calm her down. She would however be a bit surprised to learn that the woman was autistic since she seemed to have more social grace then Kai at the moment. Granted she guessed a lot of it was due to the fact that Kai was currently disheveled and at a low point post stress breakdown. She always had questions being raised either by her or those around her growing up if she too had something along the lines of Asperger's, but her mother always shot down such questions and after her mother was out of her life she simply never bothered with it as it never came up.
"A cup of tea would be nice, thank you." She said trying to appear polite to Stacy, not wanting to take advantage of her kindness.
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Post by ricochet-Stacy on Apr 10, 2022 3:53:29 GMT
"No, he isn't, but if I had said something years earlier he would of been." Stacy said with a sigh while shaking her head before she said "There are times I want to kick myself for not saying anything all those years ago even though karma caught up with him." Probably one of the few inner demons she still hadn't found peace with were ones regarding her father.
Kai remained quiet as she seemed to be considering Stacy's offer before looking surprised at the info that Stacy was autistic but Stacy knew full well that as socially awkward as she could be she had it easier than a lot of people on the autism spectrum. Sure despite her somewhat reclusive behaviors she would still occasionally interact with others with hit or miss results which could lead her to more trouble than most average people. At least she could function as an adult if a bit behind on the maturity scale as well for a woman her age.
"Tea it is. Any particular kind you want?" Stacy asked before drinking the last of her coffee. She figured she would get more coffee for herself while getting Kai some tea.
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Post by Kai Aizawa on Apr 10, 2022 8:00:57 GMT
"Earl Grey if they have it, if not, Sencha please." Kai said as she did enjoy the western type of tea. She knew a few places did have it but she never really held her hopes up to find it just about anywhere but she never knew. As Stacy would handle the drinks, Kai reached into her shoulder bag and pull out her smartphone, turning it on only to be met with about seventeen texts from four different people, mostly peers, teachers, and their family that didn't recall seeing her on her way home after the mock trials and were concerned.
Kai would send a few texts trying her best to not make anyone worry, claim that she had a relative passing through town pick her up instead. She would put her phone away as she would let out a deep breath.
"Am I even different from my father? Lying to keep up appearances? I mean this is obviously a far different situation It's not like I'm lying to profit at their expense..." She thought to herself with slight turmoil.
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Post by ricochet-Stacy on Apr 10, 2022 8:26:40 GMT
Stacy nodded as she got to her feet and made her way to stand in line. Remembering the rough shape Kai looked to be in she was glad the line was fairly short. After browsing the teas on the menu she noticed there was a good variety of teas including Earl Grey so she ordered one as well as a caramel mocha of some kind. She felt as if she was picking up on Kai's stress and since caramel calmed her she figured getting one couldn't hurt.
Returning to the table Kai was at she noticed that the teen was busy texting and decided not to bother her but noticed there seemed to be turmoil in the girl's mind judging by Kai's facial expressions and posture. Yes it was strange how observant Stacy could be at times but she couldn't help unless Kai wanted help. Setting the tea near Kai she said "Here's some Earl Grey. This place has a good variety of teas here from many places it seems. Maybe one day I'll look into on days I'm not in the mood for coffee."
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Post by Kai Aizawa on Apr 13, 2022 4:36:15 GMT
"Thank you kindly. I'm not a big coffee drinker, heat and caffeine together don't mix well with me. I can handle tea or soda, just not coffee. Mostly cause I got too much energy to deal with." She said before taking a sip from the cup, enjoying the rich flavoring of the tea before she would put the cup down, her fingers loosely around it. She glanced out the window to see the rain was still coming down as she was trying to figure out what she could say next. She was still recovering from the burnout she suffered earlier, still feeling a small headache from trying to come to terms with everything.
"Sorry if I'm keeping you from anything important or if you have someone waiting for you at home. After being, isolated for the past few years and adapting, it sometimes slips my mind that not everyone is alone." She said as she was feeling a little guilty that she diverted this woman away from her norms just because she was struggling to get back to her own version of normal. She also did not want to assume if this woman had children or not at the moment, or if it was even a sensitive subject to brush across.
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Post by ricochet-Stacy on Apr 13, 2022 4:53:49 GMT
"I get it coffee isn't for everyone for various reasons. However caffeine is one of the few things that help me maintain my scattered focus. Without caffeine in me even in tiny amounts my poor brain never seems to shut up." Stacy said as she removed her black leather jacket before hanging it on the chair her uniform much easier to distinguish but most people usually paid the outfit little mind so Stacy rarely thought about it herself. Besides she found the outfit quite comfy. "Another reason I enjoy coffee is because it calms my hyper self down somewhat but I can get how that can easily be the opposite with others." she said fidgeting a bit but that was normal for her as she rarely was able to sit still for long even before she acquired the spirit of a speedster based digimon. Yet now at times she felt as if it was like she was a kid again with how much energy she always seemed to have.
"Don't worry about anything, Kai. I am single and have no kids and if anyone needs me all they have to do is contact me. Basically I usually have lots of time on my hands anyway though I don't mind that one bit." Stacy said before taking the first sip of the coffee she most recently bought her gaze also looking out at the rain which had picked up quite a bit.
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Post by Kai Aizawa on Apr 19, 2022 5:27:32 GMT
"Sorry if I touched a sensitive topic or overstepped. Just, been used to seeing a world where I gotta go out of my way for others and everyone just has their own stuff to worry about. Normally, guess that's not exactly applicable anymore." She said with a hint of bitterness at the end before taking a sip of tea. She did not know how to process tge idea that there was someone else that didn't have anyone else to go home to at first.
She thought about it for a moment and questioned herself on if it was really weird considering she lived alone herself, but in her case she did push away her immediate family. Her gaze was down at her cup as she carefully put it back down on the table. "Though to be honest, time for myself seems oxymoronic, I'm usually busy with one thing or another. Between mock court club and track, as well as my studies of course, I find myself mostly preoccupied. Just gotta keep on moving I suppose."
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Post by ricochet-Stacy on Apr 19, 2022 7:03:06 GMT
"Nah don't worry about it. I think everyone to some extent is used to seeing such a world." Stacy said before she then said "Believe me. I know about overstepping however unknowingly. You might say I've become an expert in putting my foot in my mouth as it were." She then chuckled at various times her somewhat socially awkward self had gotten her in worse trouble. She then took a sip of her drink before leaning back in her seat.
"Mock court club and track, eh? That sounds like interesting ways to keep preoccupied. Though the last time I did anything involving track was before I moved to Japan. A few years ago I was an athlete in the Special Olympics doing various sports but lost interest. Now I just work with a group of oddballs that are both humans and digimon alike. Then again I myself am not exactly what most would call normal so I fit in well enough."
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Post by Kai Aizawa on Apr 19, 2022 21:28:40 GMT
"Special Olumpics? Forgive me for saying this but you make most of the world seem weak by comparison to you, and from your body language you are definitely hiding whatever, handicap, you have very well. If you don't mind me asking, what qualified you for the special olympics?" She would say as she was greatly astounded to learn that she would qualify for such. Kai was not even sure if she should even ask or if she asked the question respectfully enough towards the older woman.
However at the back of her mind she was trying to process the notion of an organization that deals with Digimon and humans alike. However she knew that was next to nothing in details as it equated to saying they work with people. Her fingers moved around her cup a bit anxiously, though she didn't say anything, there was a great deal of relief as the tension seemed to softly fade as she laxed her shoulders and breathing. If there were opportunities for Digimon and Humans to coexist to a point where they can work together, she figured there could very well be hope for the future.
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Post by ricochet-Stacy on Apr 19, 2022 23:50:31 GMT
"Fair enough since I can digivolve into a branching line of speedy athletic type of digimon." Stacy said with a chuckle before she said "If anything I think what qualified me was the fact that though most of my disabilities are invisible there are at least several that can cause me permanent problems but I think my mild mobility issues as well as my autism were the big ones. Without digivolving I can't run fast even if someone paid me to considering I walk with a slight and hard to see waddle. The waddle most likely was caused by having scoliosis for a long time. I'm not physically very strong in my upper body either so when I was helping you I was mostly relying on using my leg strength to hold us both up. "
"Though I still find it odd that out of the many younger stronger humans I was chosen to be a spirit wielder simply because I inherited my digivice and rookie spirit from my mother after the others she found were scattered about the Digital World before she died. I still haven't found all of them."
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