Just Let Her Move In Already [Emiko]

Remember Emiko: this is Ami we're talking about. This isn't so much a reoccurring theme as it is the tiny mouse's lifestyle.

The clack of semi-familiar stilettos did not breach past the spell of slumber Ami was currently under. Her dream was a vibrant one, colored by the book nestled somewhere within the blanket with her. Frankly she was just fine staying that way. Well, in her current state of mind perhaps. Really, she'd like to be reading, but that was just assumed. It wasn't until Emiko put a hand on her that the tiny mouse began to stir.

"Ms. Rose."

Huh. That voice seemed oddly familiar. Though in her dream that wasn't who she was. What-

"Ms. Rose."

Again there came that name, tugging on the girl's conscious while her dream world started shaking and fading. Very gradually Ami was pulled out of her accidental nap. Eventually those amber eyes cracked open and stared forward. They were dazed and unfocused, though they settled on Emiko's figure in general. "-Mmmmmm?" Hummed the girl questioningly. Ami sat it, feeling her back and bones click and crack from the movement. Despite the fact she'd been comfortable asleep, her body felt awfully stiff after that. The petite woman took a few moments to stretch within the confines of her chair and blanket.

Gods she felt horribly groggy. Feeling something on her face Amelia removed her glasses and set them aside so she could rub her face. It was like she was trudging through some thick mud: her mind was groaning into motion again. "I...hmmm...." It came out as a murmur as, with a little pat to her cheeks to wake her up faster, Ami put her glasses back on. Now when she looked at Emiko there was a little bit of recognition there. A small amount, but it was gradually growing. "Mmmmmmiko? Professor? What...?" That amber gaze went from the professor to the surroundings. Ah, yes. She was in the library. Why was she-

The books!

Now the gears in her head were starting to function at regular speed. A frown creased the pink haired girl's brow. Yes. Yes! Yes, she was here to try finding the thief! But one look down at her disheveled state and the blanket still fairly wrapped around her told Ami she'd pretty much failed at that. Puffing up in frustration the young woman beat her blanket cover fists into the material once. "Merde!" Came the mouse's hot curse in a mutter. Dammit! Of course she'd fall asleep. Stupid warm blankets and comfy chair. And of course she'd be woken up by-

Professor Inoue.
Awwww shit.

With that dawning realization, Ami looked back at Emiko with wide eyes. Yep, that was her alright. A blush immediately infused her cheeks and made them burn. Why was it always her!? "I-I...H-Hello professor!" She managed to squeak. "I um...did I stay too late again?" The last bit was said with a sheepish glance away.

Oh great. Ami wasn't so out of it that she didn't recognize the look of disappoint in Emiko's expression. Nor did she miss that sigh the woman gave her. It immediately made the younger woman's cheeks burn and her eyes snap to the floor. "S-Sorry Professor." Damn it. She should have kept a timer this time or something. She'd come to the library to catch a thief and all she'd managed to do was fall asleep and once again run into her professor. Whom she'd just made terribly disappointed by the sounds of it. And now she'd be receiving some form of official punishment for it, if what Emiko was saying was any indication. Even better. This is why the mouse tended to grab her books and go most of the time. She should have stayed outside the library. At least when she was out there she never had to worry about anyone getting her in trouble for staying up to late.

Yet she'd made her mistake twice now and been found by the same professor as last time. Ever helpful in a situation like this, her brain suddenly matched memory to current events. Yes, she'd experienced something like this before hadn't she? Only it wasn't Professor Inoue standing before her, but someone else entirely.

Pathetic.

There was a shift in the petite woman's demeanor. It was very subtle, and very quiet. Wordlessly Ami got out of the chair and collected her things into her arms. Her book she had been reading was found too; thankfully undamaged. Even in her sleepy state the tiny mouse hadn't dared to let a precious piece of literature get hurt and crinkled. Once she'd gathered the book and folded her blanket into her arms, she turned towards Emiko and followed her wherever she might lead. This time she looked to the ground and kept her gaze there even if Emiko said anything on it. There was a slight tension to the younger woman's body like a coiled spring, yet her expression was nearly unreadable. If Emiko continued on speaking the best she might get would be a half-mumbled "Je suis désolé.*" when appropriate. Otherwise Ami would passively and silently follow Emiko back to her office or wherever the older woman was taking her without a word of complaint.

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*Je suis désolé = I'm sorry

Without saying another word Amelia followed Emiko out of the library and into the halls. Only a few people passed then, but the young woman didn't look up at any of them. Rather she kept after the professor like a shadow. Head down. Eyes to the floor. In step with the woman leading the way. Completely silent but for the footfalls drowned out by the click of the professor's heels in the quiet halls.

It would have been scary to the girl how easily she fell back into this, but mental and physical memory had taken over.

When ordered to sit, she sat. Eyes still downcast, she now stared at a desk. An upgrade from the floor at least while she listened to everything Emiko had to say. So she'd repeated a mistake. That just wouldn't do. No wonder she was in trouble; repeating the same mistake wasn't allowed as far as she could remember. Consequences came with that. But this time she was being asked what her punishment would be.

From Emiko's perspective, Amelia still hadn't shown much. Since leaving the library her face had remained a nearly impassive expression, though what little could be read said "tension" and "anticipation" as her eyes kept to the ground. As though she were waiting for something to happen. She gave a few little nods here and there when appropriate to indicate she was listening; otherwise she'd stayed the same. But when Emiko said these words, there was a flicker across her face. Recognition? Registration? Resignation? Whatever it was vanished in a flash.

In her experience it was always best to go for the worst one she could think of; that was usually the most fitting. "<Temporary suspension from the library.>" Was what the mouse came up with, saying it in her native tongue out of instinct. That's how they were supposed to respond back. This was pure reflex to try avoiding anything worse. "<But whatever you choose is fitting.>"

At this point it didn't occur to her exactly who she was talking to.

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*Words within the < >’s are said entirely in french (I simply don’t want to utterly butcher the language trying to type it out using french words)

Excuse me. I am not yet fluent in that language.

Wait...what?

They all knew how to speak it. It had been the first language any of them, Ami included, had ever learned. How in the world could she not speak it fluently? For the first time since stepping into Emiko's office, the petite woman stirred. She did, actually, look up as per Emiko's request (order). Albeit with hesitancy.

When amber eyes finally made contact with the professor, there was a moment of confusion. Then recognition. Then realization. Then all the way back to flustered and slightly panicked embarrassment. Redness began seeping into the tiny mouse's cheeks, though she did repeat herself in Ethean. At least she wasn't a husk of silent passivity anymore. No, now she was a nervous little ball of worry. Of all the people why had she mistaken Professor Inoue for her? by the gods this had gone from already pretty bad to downright catastrophic in Ami's mind.

Someone bamf her out of there, please.

In no way, shape, or form could Ami keep that eye contact going. She averted her gaze, going downward as to not- Okay, no. Going downward was definitely a bad idea. Ami focused in on the spot right next to Emiko's head instead. There, that was good enough. Nothing interesting was there. Not that anything... interesting had been elsewhere.

By the Gods Ami you useless bookworm.

The heat in her cheeks only got hotter at the surprise compliment. Though she did actually manage to make true eye contact for a second. She wasn't getting banned from the library? Oh thank goodness. That would've been like taking away food for the girl. Which was why it would've worked with the other. But let's not talk about that because Emiko just completely bamboozled Amelia.

Her? And Professor Inoue? Language partners?

The complete bafflement was probably evident on her face. That was... definitely not the punishment she'd been expecting. Or even a punishment she expected to exist. But it was a wonderful alternative to not being banned from the library or getting a mark in her records. "I... t-that sounds fair. T-Thank you, Professor; I'll do it." What else was she supposed to do? Although now the gears in her head were turning. "Though I've never acted as a language tutor before... I guess we would still have the books..." Children's books back at her family's home she- along with her siblings- had read countless times. Though they might seem silly, they were a place to start. "Though that would mean..." Going to the Rose residence. Amelia's face unconsciously screwed up with disdain at the idea. Yeah she'd basically gotten lost in thought and completely forgot where she was and who she was with at the moment. "I'll have to ask Paige or Rachel..." She mumbled to herself more than anything. Almost immediately after she said those words, a gradual look of dawning horror grew on her face.

"Oh merde." That meant she'd have to explain why she needed her books. Because the tiny mouse sure as hell wasnt going to get them that easy from her sisters. Not without an explaination. Ami buried her face in her hands- which once again made her glasses poke her eyes. "Ow! For the love of- ugh." She took the glasses off with one hand and buried her face into the other.

Could this get any worse?

Yes actually it could: Ami remembered she wasn't alone.

Whipping her head up, Ami blinked. Yeah there was Professor Inoue. Who'd... probably seen all of that. Splendid. Color flooded Ami's face as she quickly put her glasses on again. No way in hell was she holding gazes with the woman now. "Ah... w-what days and t-times would work for you, then?" She stuttered. Internally she was trying to figure out how to drop kick herself out of existence. Was that a thing? She'd have to test it. Hopefully it would work.