[action]

[swordthrowing]

[Today, while roaming the Gardens, you might come across an unusual sight. Sure, there has been blonde maid in the Gardens for the past month and a half or so, but not one that is so...short. Or young. Upon closer examination, though, it seems that the clothes she is wearing are too big for her, and there's a bag of popcorn from the café cradled in her arms. Ah. Maybe that explains it.]

[The rabbits seem to be out in full force today, too, which isn't exactly helping matters. They harry Yumeko as they follow along at her heels, nipping at her socks and constantly getting underfoot in a way that offers just enough room to act like they aren't trying to trip her. Yumeko's scowl deepens more and more the longer this goes on, until finally she outright growls and throws the bag right at them in frustration. It's tossed with all the force she can muster, candy spilling everywhere as it hits the ground.]

[Whether or not that makes them scatter, Yumeko stomps past them without a backward glance at the mess she's made.]

Hmph...


[ ooc: JSYK, Yumeko has retained all her memories. The deaging isn't just physical, though — her mentality has also regressed, so despite her best efforts to do otherwise, she'll be behaving like a child. ]

Comments

[swordthrowing]

[Yumeko's response to which is...to turn around and yell.]

Go away, you stupid rabbits! I don't have anything else to give you!

[She stops a foot. It's cuter than she means it to be.]

[shanghaiworld]

[This is a perfect time to just drop behind her, and say hello.

So let's do that.]

Hello.

[swordthrowing]

Wah—!

[Oh, Alice, you card. She whirls around again, practically jumping, and almost trips over her own skirt.]

Alice! How long have you been there...?!

[shanghaiworld]

Enough to witness your emotional outbursts, which I think is long enough.

[swordthrowing]

More like too long...

A-anyway, Alice! If you were there, you should have just said something.

[shanghaiworld]

It would have been rude to interrupt you while you were speaking.

[swordthrowing]

[She puffs up, obviously pouting like... Well, what she looks like right now. A child being teased by someone older than her.]

It would not! If you had just said something to begin with—!

[But then she realizes she has gotten snippy with Alice, so ruffled feathers or not, she looks away in embarrassment.]

[shanghaiworld]

And it seems like your behavior has changed a bit as well. It would be rather unfitting if mother saw you now, wouldn't it?

[She is enjoying this far more than she should be.]

[swordthrowing]

[She puffs up with that same look, her back rigid and her hands bunching in the front of her skirt.]

Even if I'm like this, I'm still Shinki-sama's attendant. I can't just— Just ignore my duty to her because of a little inconvenience.

[shanghaiworld]

And what are the chances she would latch onto you, due to how cute you've become?

[swordthrowing]

[Pretty high, if Yumeko is being honest. But, even so...!]

I have no idea how long this...condition will last, and I would just have to explain my tardiness to her later, anyway. And besides, where exactly am I supposed to go looking like this?

[shanghaiworld]

I'm sure I could quickly make some clothes your current size.

[swordthrowing]

[Alice, are you trying to use Yumeko as one of those life-sized dolls]

[is that what you're trying to do here]

[because Yumeko is probably not going to refuse]

...Well, I guess that would be more convenient than walking around like this...

[shanghaiworld]

[Of course...

There is no not missing at the end of that sentence.]

Also easier to manage.

[swordthrowing]

[She fidgets with the cloth bunched up in her hands.]

Well, I... I suppose Shinki-sama wouldn't object to me spending time with you...

[Probably the closest Alice will get to her saying yes outright.]

[shanghaiworld]

So do you want to ride on my shoulders?

[swordthrowing]

[She bristles.]

Absolutely not!

[And then she gathers up her skirts and stomps off in what she is fairly certain is the direction of Alice's home.]

[shanghaiworld]

[And Alice just follows behind her.]

You do realize how you're acting, yes?

[swordthrowing]

[She doesn't look at Alice, but her pout is audible.]

Yes.

[shanghaiworld]

I admit, it's strange seeing you like this.

[swordthrowing]

...That's because you're younger than me. You never saw me when I really was this age.

[And when she really was this age, she was quick-tempered and never needed anyone's help, because she wasn't a kid and she was going to be Shinki-sama's maid when she grew up, so she had to learn to do everything on her own before then!!!]

[shanghaiworld]

True, but there is something strange with seeing someone look younger, act that age... but the memories don't match up.

[swordthrowing]

...I guess so. I wonder which way would be better, though...

[shanghaiworld]

Well, for me, possibly the one where I could take an actual look into your younger years.

[swordthrowing]

My childhood wasn't that interesting.