[Action] Fighting Phobias

[innocent_royal]

(Acrophobia)

[Anastasia was out and about once more, dressed in a manner more suited for activities.

One thing different is she has a large broom in her hands, the broom having a bicycle seat attached to the handle.

What does a broom have to do with fightingng her Acrophobia anyway? Why, its a flying magic broom. Anastasia can be found, wandering and pacing about, talking to herself and having an internal debate.]

I got this... I've done it before. The accident was just that, an accident... It doesn't mean it will happen again... But what if it does? I probably won't be as lucky this time.

Can I even do it? Should I? I shouldn't... But I have to try. I'm a tigress, my mom said so. I need to channel my inner tigress...

[Anastasia takes a deep breath and lets out the most adorably weak meow of a roar.]

...I'm going to die...

[Perhaps if someone can give her advice, she can do it.]

(Gatophobia)

[Next, Anastasia can be found at a pet store. Most likely in either Nova City or Genessia. She was watching the cats prance, pounce and play in their cages, waiting for someone to adopt them. Her heart aches at how cute they are, but visions of a past incident flash before her eyes. The fear of herself, tiny and defenseless, as a cat twice her size was getting closer and closer to catching her.

If anyone happens to be at the shop, they can overhear Anastasia's chat with a store attendant and her reason to be here.]

Good day, miss. Are you looking to adopt a kitty-cat?

Oh, um... No... Actually, I'm... I'm a little scared of them...

[Perhaps a brave soul can help her overcome this fear.]

Comments

[ohmystarsandlasers]

[ No vampires today, but there is a young woman in a witch outfit and flying by on her own broom.

It's not long before she notices the kid with her own broom looking all hesitant. ]

Hey, you okay down there?

[innocent_royal]

Huh?

[Anastasia looked up to see a woman floating there on a broom. How she wishes she could fly again. It was quite convenient.]

You can fly on a magic broom?

[She flinched in realization. She's asking a complete stranger, but she wants to overcome this fear. Anastasia holds up her own broom for a moment before lowering again. It was heavy.]

I'm sorry, but can you help me?

[ohmystarsandlasers]

[ And Marisa flies on down. Of course, these days she doesn't need the broom to fly anymore, but she started with it. ]

Hm, sure. What'd need help with?

[innocent_royal]

[Anastasia drops her broom, but luckily it just floats there. Meanwhile, she laces her fingers together nervously.]

I want to fly again, but I... I'm scared to. I might crash again.

[ohmystarsandlasers]

[ Marisa is of course the very picture of confidence. ]

Sure, I could help with that. Mebbe I could fly beside you, so if ya do fall, I can catch ya.

[innocent_royal]

Are you certain? You really don't mind helping me? Okay... Here it goes...

[Anastasia positions herself and takes a seat on her broom, intending to ride side-saddle. She was going to start off small for now, but merely going high enough for her feet to leave the ground was making her whine in fear.]

[ohmystarsandlasers]

[ Marisa hopped on her own broom, keeping close enough that if she wanted to, Anastasia could grab on. ]

Name's Marisa. What's yours?

[notquitedracula]

[Coincidental meetings. These two have waaaay too many of them. Soma's just walked in, humming to himself a little, and encountered this tableau just in time to hear Anya's admission.]

Maybe you should start smaller, if you're afraid of them. Ma'am - can you bring out a kitten, please?

No, we don't let customers handle the animals prior to purchase. Store policy, I'm sorry.

Hmm. [This complicates things. But not so much he doesn't have a solution.]

Anya, mind holding this for me? [He offers her a small bundle, apparently plucked from his coat pocket. If she takes it, it will be warm, furry, and... vibrating?]

[innocent_royal]

Soma...?

[Anastasia watches the brief exchange and wonders what it is. She cautiously accepts it. Aside from the warm and furriness of it, she did wonder why it's vibrating.]

What is it?

[notquitedracula]

Just hold it for a minute while I talk to this nice lady at the counter? I'll tell you when I get back, I promise.

[Does he seem to be rushing to get the attendant away? He might be. When Anya can't see, he winks at the attendant and puts a finger to his lips. Shhh. Don't spoil the surprise therapy.

When they get to the counter, the attendant glares at him.] How did you do that? That was cruel. If that girl really is -

[Soma cuts her off here. Not unkindly, but out of necessity.]

Sometimes to perform a great kindness, you have to perform a small cruelty. Just watch nature take its course. There isn't a child alive that can resist the power of cute.

[innocent_royal]

[Anastasia watches them leave, and she just holds the bundle.

What is it, is a question she can't resist. She gentle pokes the bundle.
Did jt just wiggle?!

She continues to examine it and noticed something. She gently pets the bundle and two furry triangle ears popped up.

And that's when it happened. It. MEWED. And stretched out to reveal it was a cat. A small, adorable kitten. And yet, to Anastasia, she saw a huge monster getting ready to swipe with its claws and eat her!

With a small shriek, Anastasia dropped the kitten, which landed on its feet. The kitten sat back and stood on its hind legs, putting its paws together pleadingly, mewing. But Anastasia was just off in a corner, trembling and cowering.]

[notquitedracula]

...This may be harder than I thought.

Um, duh? Did you not SEE how she was shaking just standing there with them in cages?

Yes, I did. I also know that girl, and that she's braver than she has any need to be.

[He calls up another cat - this one, an adult wearing a witch's hat. Solid black, same as the kitten. He sends it over to pick up the kitten and bring it back. Once he's picked them both up, Soma makes them disappear again, then goes over to attempt to comfort Anya.]

Easy there, Anya. I didn't realize it was that extreme, or I wouldn't have tried that. Those two were familiars - under my complete control. Neither of them could have hurt you, even had they wanted to.

[innocent_royal]

T-That was you...?

[Anastasia was on the edge of tears by now. But when Soma came back and admitted this was his doing, well...

She rushed over and tried to unleash her wrath! Hitting his chest once with both fists that only made a soft "piff" sound.]

You're mean!

[notquitedracula]

[He takes the abuse as his due for tricking her.] Keep hitting if you want. I was trying to help, but I shouldn't have done that to you. I didn't realize your fear was that strong - I'm sorry.

[priceofmagic]

A~na-chan!

[Satou pops out from one of the pet store aisles, her pink eyes bright with excitement. Clinging to her shoulder is her trusted Espurr, who stares at Ana with those dead Espurr eyes.]

I thought that I heard your voice~!

[innocent_royal]

Satou? I...

[Anastasia noticed the cat-like Espurr, and just as it was staring at her, she was staring back with her bright, blue eyes.

Who's staring into whose soul?

Then she shakes heraelf back to reality.]

I didn't know you'd be here.

[priceofmagic]

I didn't think I'd see you here either.

[Satou giggles, pointing to 'Mikitty's' neck.]

I wanted to get break-away collars for my Pokemon... I couldn't find anything in Shooey's size, though... What are you up to? [She tilts her head,] Looking at the kitties?

[innocent_royal]

Um, yeah.
Looking.
That's what I'm doing...

[She's totally not scared one will grow into Catzilla and eat her or anything.

Of course, her response was not at all convincing.]

[priceofmagic]

Hm?

[Satou gives Ana a curious look. She's not buying the excuse, but she also isn't sure why Ana would lie.]

Is everything okay? Did something happen?

[innocent_royal]

[Anastasia quietly whined in protest. Meanwhile, the attendant that spoke to her earlier whispered to Satou.]

I spoke to her earlier. She says she's afraid of cats. Are you her friend? Maybe you can help her.

[ubiquitously]

I didn't know you were one for public service, Ana.

[Speaking of flying: That's kind of what Uai is doing when he finds Ana. It's more like floating, since he's not going anywhere. He appeared in a blink, and now lands on the ground some yards away from her.

He's eyeing that broom with a curious smile. He knows she isn't actually here to clean the park. That bicycle seat attached to it kind of gives away its purpose.]

What are you up to?

[innocent_royal]

[Well, she is a Princess, so it's her sacred duty to listen to and help people.

She's not the slightest bit surprised by him flying, really.]

Uai. It's you.
Um...
I can fly with this broom. But... I'm scared to.

[ubiquitously]

Scared?

[Uai keeps a casual tone, but he's a touch amused. She reminds him of his daughters when they first tried to learn how to ride a bike: Both scared of it falling over and hurting them.]

Are you afraid of falling?

[innocent_royal]

[She replies by nodding.]

...I've fallen off before...

[ubiquitously]

Huh... That could do it, huh? Once Sakura fell off the bike for the first next, it took me weeks to get her to even look at it again...

[He looks up at the sky, then down at Ana again.] ... Want me to fly with you while you practice? I can catch you.