Build-a-Bear with Karin:
It’s always stressful to be in a situation where one has to get along with and befriend essential strangers, especially moody, untrusting strangers. The MCC had just recently been formed, so many of the members still barely knew, let alone trusted, one another, and there were still creatures who had yet to join. Needless to say, tensions were running high, but no one felt the tension as keenly as Karin, who couldn’t seem to stand that nobody got along.
Although Ash always attempted to keep out of other people’s affairs, she couldn’t help but notice how harried the bunny-girl looked and take pity on her. It was obvious she wasn’t sleeping well by the bags under eyes, but she was still shyly sweet to all the members, in spite of their menacing looks or abrasive personalities. Slowly, Ash grew to respect Karin.
So it came about that one morning, Ash responded to Karin’s shyly stuttered “good morning” with a “good morning” of her own. Karin initially looked shocked, as in the past Ash had merely nodded politely, but her shock faded into a delighted smile. From that moment, Ash and Karin became tentative friends.
A few days later, Karin was sent into town to buy supplies for the club, and she invited Ash along. After buying groceries and necessary household supplies, the duo found themselves wandering around the mall, window-shopping at the different stores. Just as they were about to leave, Karin spotted a Build-a-Bear workshop and squealed. “Ash, we have to go in there! Look at how cute the little animals are! We should make one, too!” Ash was going to protest, but when she looked at Karin’s eager face, free for the first time in weeks of any worry or stress, she couldn’t say no.
“Fine, but only if you pay.” Karin clapped her hands delightedly and rushed into the store, Ash close behind, because although she would never admit it, she thought the animals were adorable, too.
After digging through the bin of un-stuffed stuffed animals, Karin energetically stuffed cotton into her hollow baby harp seal while Ash cautiously poked the fluff into the sheep she had chosen. Soon Karin had an adorable plushily-plump seal and started helping Ash stuff her sheep, which was kind of floppy and sad looking. With Karin’s help, it achieved the same level of huggable squishiness as the seal, and they went to pay.
When Karin pulled out her wallet to pay for the animals, the cashier shot Ash a dirty look. Ash squirmed uncomfortably under the glare. Karin, eager to defend Ash’s honor, told the cashier, “He’s not my boyfriend, just my friend. Besides, he doesn’t have much money.” Ash flushed crimson under the then pitying look the cashier gave her. She knew Karin hadn’t meant to embarrass her with the comment, and so she wasn’t too upset by it. She was upset, however, that she had forgotten her place. She dressed as a boy to avoid unwanted attention, but failing to act like one would draw it all the same. And boys are always expected to pay for the girl.
Seeing something of Ash’s dilemma on her face, Karin smiled comfortingly and handed her to bag with the sheep in it, clutching her own to her chest. Ash smiled back, thinking how nice it was to have a friend.
(D’aww, Karin, you mean so well! I’m sorry if I made her out to be too much of an idiot. Everyone slips up and says things they don’t exactly mean that way, though, so hopefully I’m safe. xD)
