video | un: Da Silva

[rosae]

( The feed opens to a woman sitting in a bright cottage kitchen, with a cup of something warm and a soft smile. )

Hello. Some of you may know me already, but to those who don't — I'm Rose Da Silva. Sharon's mom.

( Her smile warms, and she gently sets her mug down so she can turn her full focus on the video she's making. )

I've been here for... a while. Half a year now. I have to admit, this place isn't like where I come from at all, and I'm still... trying to adjust.

I know a lot of you are from worlds that may be similar to this one. You've probably been able to settle in a lot easier than me. But... I wanted to offer something. Because I know there are a lot of young people here, people... on their own.

( Her smile wavers, brow knitting slightly. A lot of people without parents, without help. And maybe they've been doing quite well on their own; Rose has certainly witnessed almost disconcerting levels of independence from the Sleeper youth. Often, it suggests that... many of them might not have had a strong parental presence back home, either. Several of them have directly told her as much, or she's seen... memories, shared by accident. )

I can't make things, but I can show you how to buy and use them, if you like. Like... well, if anyone might need some more clothes and could use a hand, I'd be very happy to show you the shops I've discovered around here.

( She's.... offering to help take you shopping, yes. This month, there's a growing compulsion to teach, and maybe Rose is....... filled with the need to do some Mom Teaching Things for others! )

There are some really nice shops in certain parts of the city. I'm sure we could find something to fit your personal style.

( Her smile brightens again; she seems excited. Back home, before she was venturing into the depths of Silent Hill to rescue her daughter, she was one fancy suburban mom. Shopping was her thing. And maybe it seems a little silly, considering so many young people around here are... warriors, fighters, have some sort of strong power.... do they really need something as simple as a shopping trip while she's Mom For A Day?

....The offer is there. She wants it to be there, just in case someone does need it. Because maybe she doesn't have a lot of Trench-appropriate skills to put out here, in comparison to others. But being a mother... that's what she wanted to be for her whole life. She's not explicitly framing it that way, but that's what she feels the most comfortable offering, guidance that might fall under the "maternal" or "guardian" category of teaching. )

I'd be happy to treat you to lunch or dinner too, or show you around other places in the city, if you like. The weather's so nice lately.

Comments

[tealeafs]

I.. think it might have to be the first one..

[ The way the girl's voice trails off is so obviously awkward. She doesn't really want to say this out loud, since it makes her feel pretty pathetic. But on the other hand, if she isn't honest with Rose, then Rose can't help her.

It's a difficult balance, but in the end Chizuru nervously presses the tips of her fingers together as she gathers her courage and speaks on. ]

You see.. I.. I only have my one set of clothes from back home.. I tried looking at the clothes they have here by myself, but I couldn't figure out what was appropriate for me to wear, or.. um, even how to put those on...

[ It's super embarrassing. It feels like the sort of thing even a small child would be able to do, but culture shock in this particular department has more or less reduced Chizuru to that level.. ]

So I've just been washing my one set of clothes really often..

[ Sure, Rose seemed nice the last time they spoke, but Chizuru is still deadly afraid of the other judging her over this. Rose would have all right to. ]

[rosae]

( Rose listens to the young woman speak, her heart giving soft little hitches at the words. There isn't an ounce of her that could judge the girl for something like that; no, she's only feeling a tightness in her chest at the thought of the poor thing trying to manage that on her own... Of having to wear her one single outfit.

This is exactly what she was thinking of when she made this post. That there might be some young people struggling with things that others might not even think about. Just the act of finding clothes, buying them, wearing them... it might not be so simple, for some.

Rose is leaning closer to her screen, her tone softening. It breaks her heart to think of the sweet girl quietly dealing with this on her own. )

It's hard to make sense of some of the clothes here, right...? I've been struggling with it, too. ( Rose smiles gently; she really has, she understands. ) I would be very happy to help you find some more things, and start building a wardrobe.

In fact, we could have a shopping spree! Would you like that?

[tealeafs]

[ A shopping spree..

That's so much for a girl who is - at best - only used to having shopping sprees because she needs to get a lot of food to feed an entire compound of hungry men.. It leaves her quiet for a moment, though said quiet is mostly born from a sense of awe at the idea that Rose is seriously offering this to her.

Even though she probably has to do it for so many other people too, judging by how many people reacted to her message.. ]

If that's really okay with you..!

[ She can't help but keep putting emphasis on that. Overwhelming Rose would make her feel like the worst person alive ever, officially. ]

Even though you say you've been struggling with it, miss.. you sound like you really know what you're talking about all the same. I would be very grateful to receive advice from you, or.. um, to go on a shopping spree together..

If there is anything at all I can do in return for you, please let me know. It wouldn't be fair for you to do all this without getting anything in return..

[rosae]

( The tentativeness and thoughtfulness are sweet, but it also... pulls firmly on Rose's heartstrings. The young woman seems almost as though she needs to have permission before she can accept this kind of help. Rose is immediately giving her head a soft shake, one hand sliding up onto the table she's sitting at, and moving forwards a bit. Even if this is through video feed, the gesture is meant to be a sort of literal reaching out — a way to close some of the distance. To comfort, if she can. )

Truthfully, I've been hoping a lot of people would want this kind of thing. Because I'd really like it, too. It makes me feel... good. Even just looking for clothes, doing some window-shopping.. it's always been kind of healing for me.

( Maybe it sounds strange, spoiled... but it's no different from other hobbies and likes, is it? She enjoyed it back home; it was part of her normalcy. And she wants to spoil this girl rotten. )

So honestly, what I'd get in return is having a really nice time with you. I'd really like that. ( She doesn't want to push; she knows she's essentially a stranger. And she doesn't want to make the poor girl nervous. Rose lightens her tone, gives a playful little wink. )

Where I'm from, we say 'shop til you drop.' I think it'd be fun to do that here, too!

[tealeafs]

[ There's a pause.

There's no denying that it does sound nice to Chizuru - actually getting help with something she's been struggling with this entire time now, but was too scared to ask for help with. And Rose seems so kind about it to boot. So understanding, not even judging Chizuru for a single moment despite her dumb nature of her problem. And if Rose says she enjoys that sort of thing, then.. it ought to be alright.

Or so Chizuru tries to tell herself. Tries to justify actually asking for this help without feeling like she's being selfish.

It's hard.

But that's not what gets the girl to pause. No, it's just that Chizuru's expression is slowly growing more and more surprised, until she dares to utter: ]

W-We won't.. really drop, will we..?

[ ... apparently that's the part she was worried about. ]

[rosae]

( Oh— Rose's eyes widen for a brief moment, and then she's giving a fervent shake of her head. There's a laugh, but it's soft, still warm. )

Oh, no— we won't really drop, I promise! It's just an expression. I suppose some people might take it too far, but... we can definitely stop before we end up in a bad state.

( Marathon shopping can be a workout, okay... but Rose has no intentions of letting the sweet girl pass out. )

And if there's any danger of us getting too tired, you know what always gives me a boost of energy? ( She leans a little closer to the screen, giving another bright smile. ) A nice smoothie. What're your favourite fruits? I could make us some to take on the go!

[tealeafs]

[ Oh, thank god. At least shopping isn't also a deadly activity in this place.. ]

My favourites? Um, I like anything, so I'm really not too picky.. [ Especially this month.

Chizuru feels like she could eat absolutely any fruit and it would be delicious. ]

But if I'd have to pick, then.. maybe strawberries? Or cherries? I like anything sweet.. [ There's a slight pause. ] Is it really okay for you to offer me so much at once though? It's just.. I thought people usually didn't do all this..

[ Going shopping with her because Rose finds it fun too? That much is understandable, at least. But then the other making her stuff on top of it?!

It's something Chizuru is totally unused to, having spent so much time just providing for herself. ]

Please, miss, let me know if there's anything I can do for the trip too..