Frills, Friends, and Fun (Kendra/Nadia)

Nadia had been looking at a few of the hair pins herself as Kendra was thumbing through them. It wasn't the kind of thing she usually wore, but there was a first time for everything. Her interest piqued when Kendra's excited voice reached her again. She had found an attractive set of hair pins that were made to look like golden flowers. They were pretty. Much too bright for most of Nadia's wardrobe, but for Kendra they'd do quite well. They were gold, like her hair, but the bronzy note to them made them stand out anyway.

With an approving smile, Nadia nodded. "I think they'll suit you. They're vibrant like you are." She commented. Bright things for a bright person. It was funny that they were doing this. These two girls shopping for opposite ends of the spectrum. The one would stand out brightly in any crowd, and the other probably wouldn't have been noticed at all if the blond girl wasn't there with her. What a dichotomy they were! Fate was funny the way it brought people together.

It was hard to imagine either of these small girls was capable of fighting demons.

Kendra looked triumphant, as though she had just beaten a bunch of demons all over again. She was actually acing this whole shopping thing. She hadn't even gotten kicked out! Kendra had expected she'd end up messing up and getting banned, but it really seemed like nobody was going to do anything. The copper-haired girl ran over thumb over the hair pins, trying to get a sense of them.

It was strange. She had never envisioned herself wearing different clothes whenever she looked at the future. She saw herself in pantsuits and ties and button-up shirts. Now, however, she wanted to try to find more things. She wanted to stand out. Nadia had said she was doll-like, something Kendra hadn't expected. She wanted to be doll-like more, to be in control of her outfits and to be vibrant like Nadia said. She had expected things to change when she moved in with Nadia, sure, but the copper-haired girl hadn't ever expected things to change so drastically. Nadia had brought a wave of change with her, and Kendra wouldn't have met her if she wasn't sulking about her lack of change. She guessed the world finally got sick of her not changing, and sent somebody over to help find her own freedom.

While her friendship with Nadia and Cecil should've quenched her desire for freedom, it seemed they instead ignited a new fire, stoking the flames of the current one, making Kendra determined to use her freedom to do whatever she wanted.

"Should we be heading over to the shoe store now? Or do you wanna poke around more?"

Nadia could appreciate the way Kendra seemed to admire the pins. Such a simple thing. Someone like Bridgett, who had never had trouble getting things they wanted, or picking out stuff that suited them...someone who'd grown up going "shopping" with friends...they didn't understand what it was like to finally be able to want things for yourself. To process and know what it meant to do so, and then make those decisions. Being selfish wasn't always easy, but sometimes it could make you feel like you were the most important person in the world. And that was an important feeling to have. Especially in a world that could end at any moment.

Nadia looked around, even though she already knew what her answer would be. "Let's head to the shoe-store, then." She announced, and together they went up to the cashier, who was more than happy to see them leave, and bought their items. As they headed towards the shoe shop, Nadia finally opened her mouth. "I wanted to tell you, Kendra. Remember, when I told you about the room at the Inn, and how I was looking to move out soon? Well, I have found a place. So, I'll be leaving the room to you in a week or so. Maybe a little less. It'll be all yours. The soil from which your story will sprout and grow." She told her. "Don't worry, you can visit me as often as you like." She added, in a joking tone, anticipating the girl's initial distaste for the idea. She seemed to like living with Nadia after all, which was strange, as Nadia wasn't that interesting of a person.

The cashier seemed happier when they bought everything and were leaving, though Kendra couldn't comprehend why. Maybe because she was happy with what they picked out? it didn't exactly seem like the clothes Nadia and Kendra bought had been super popular. She probably was just grateful they were willing to take it off the store's hands.


However, Nadia's announcement snapped her out of her questioning. "So you're going to leave? I was actually really enjoying having you as a roommate. Not that I've had other roommates, but you're probably the best roommate ever. She seemed to calm down a little bit once she realized Nadia was going to let her visit whenever. "I'll be over all the time then!" She didn't even ask if that was okay, deciding she'd go over whenever she could whether Nadia was available or not. She'd just wait outside.

When the two were close to the shoe shop, Kendra started to run, nearly running into a few people as she did so. She pushed open the door, or at least tried to. She took a few minutes to realize it was a pull door, and she heard the faintest sounds of snickering. "Shut up!" She yelled, before yanking open the door and holding it for Nadia. The shop seemed nice from what Kendra could see, but she was also preoccupied glaring at people passing by so she could be wrong.

Nadia thought Kendra took the news rather well, considering she was up and running right after she'd delivered the news. Visiting all the time though...She didn't suppose that was a problem. She'd have to give the girl her schedule and...Probably should have told her the kind of shop it was that she was living and working at but...All of that could wait.

Nadia glanced at the snickering passersby as Kendra yelled at them, having difficulty with the door in her excitement. Opening it for Nadia, Kendra seemed excited as ever. Nadia entered, not sure how to feel about having the door opened for her. It was a little strange, all this adulation she was getting from the other girl. It was endearing, but also strange.

But, now they were here, it was back to the task at hand, looking for shoes. Since she had a black dress and bracelett, she'd probably want something black to match. She had never really shopped for shoes before, and the sheer quantity of different brands and shapes and colors astounded her. And the fact that people were openly trying them on was as well. A little overwhelmed in the entry way, she turned to Kendra. "It's...a little overwhelming, isn't it?"

Kendra, before she walked inside the store, stuck her tongue out in the direction of whoever it was she heard snickering, feeling proud of herself despite how childish it was. She quickly bolted into the shop afterwards, only slowing down slightly when she thought her dress was in danger of meeting the ground unceremoniously. She froze, however, when she was actually inside. The store was so colorful, with shoes of different types everywhere. And there were people grabbing boxes of them off shelves to try them on as well, colors getting swapped out for new colors.

Kendra hesitantly took a step away from Nadia, though she didn't begin her search just yet. She was confident she could find what she wanted, but where was she supposed to begin? She didn't show any sort of hesitance or nervousness, just confusion which was written in her face. "It's so... colorful! How does anything like this exist? i mean, it's like you look one way and bam! Color! Then you look the other way and double bam! More color!" She hadn't ever been shopping before, like Nadia, and to her it was just too colorful for her attention to zero in on something.

Like a child trying to stay with their mother, Kendra grabbed onto Nadia's hand and began to try to drag her, gently, of course, along with her as she went in one direction, seeing a lot of women over there. It made sense for them to go to the area with a lot of women if they were trying to buy shoes to go with dresses.

Nadia almost laughed at Kendra's response, but stopped herself, hand held over her mouth. She was surprised when Kendra grabbed her hand. It was a touch that she'd reserved only for Cecil up to that point...but this hand holding was different. It was like a sibling guiding another sibling to a fun attraction at an amusement park. Nadia followed along, and together they looked at this or that, marveling at types of shoes they'd never seen before, wondering how you were supposed to walk with big slender nails sticking out of the soles of your shoes. Nadia tried on a pair of heals and nearly fell over after just a couple steps.

Their mirth was such that they were getting strange looks in this shop as well, but neither seemed to care. At length, Nadia found a frilly pair of black boots that went well with the black dress Kendra had picked out. Sitting on one of the benches and knocking her feet together she hummed to herself. "These will do nicely, I think. What do you think, Kendra?" She asked, tipping her head back to look around the corner where Kendra was looking at another pair of shoes that's she'd taken a fancy to.

Kendra enjoyed the time she ended up spending with Nadia at the store. She hadn't expected to see so many different types of shoes. Especially the ones that had those big nails. It was amazing watching the women walk with them on, though Nadia didn't seem to be able to. And if Nadia couldn't, Kendra probably couldn't either. Though she would've been a lot taller if she could, she had dignity and the power of stubbornness on her side.

Kendra had been ready to try to punch a shelf in frustration when she had spotted the shoes. They could be mistaken for gold if you stood far away, but when Kendra examined them she found they were closer to white in color. She was sure there was a specific name for it, but she wasn't sure what it was. Still, she had to admit the sandals seemed to be perfect for her outfit. Nothing that was too formal, but something that still seemed special and made the outfit pop.

Nadia's question got Kendra's attention, and she turned her gaze to the shoes currently on Nadia's feet. "They actually look good on you! And I bet they go with the dress!" Kendra's natural loudness got the attention and ire of several shoppers, but Kendra ignored them. She held up the pair of sandals she found, hoping to get an answer in return. "Do you think these would go with my dress? I sort of like them."

Nadia seemed happy with Kendra's response, admiring the shoes she'd found. Looking back up to examine Kendra's own find, she cocked her head to the side, considering. "You know, I think they would, actually." She smiled approvingly. "They match the hair clip you got too." She noted, tapping her chin wistfully.

It was amazing the difference between the two when it came to wardrobe choices. You couldn't tell it from the things Kendra already owned, but when she picked out things for herself it was painfully apparent. It was interesting to say the least. How would Nadia look in a bright red dress and gold sandals, she wondered? The world may never know.

Kendra seemed very pleased by Nadia's words, though that wasn't a surprise considering the fact Nadia was one of her heroes. After all, if they went with the dress and the hair clip, then she had to have enough common sense to plot out a decent outfit. Considering this was Kendra's first time really getting the freedom to shop by herself, it meant a lot. "Perfect! I'm totally getting these then! This is just so exciting! The first time I've ever bought an outfit for myself!" She loved being in control of buying her own outfit, as stupid as that may have seemed to an outsider. But an outsider wouldn't have understood what it meant, so it didn't bother Kendra at all.

The difference between Nadia and Kendra seemed more obvious than any similarities. Even if you knew the things the two had in common, it wouldn't have made much sense how their friendship worked. Kendra seemed geared to be the center of attention in a rush, even by mistake, while Nadia seemed to, despite her occasionally odd habits, better suited to observing and experiencing things in full detail. Kendra wouldn't have been able to pull off a black outfit, certainly. But there they were, walking towards the cashier together, ready to pay for their shoes.

Perhaps Kendra's desire for a friend and idolization made her willing to overlook any differences. Or perhaps birds of a feather, a strange, odd feather, flocked together no matter what. Not that the answer mattered anyways, as the two ended up leaving the shop with their purchases.