[It's in Anya's nature to try to make friends with people at random, as if that gesture alone will make it easier to stave off any loneliness. It makes sense? If you're in good company, there's no way to feel alone. Considering the fact that she'd much rather focus on ways to make Zoro proud instead of worrying about time without him, this just made sense to her.
Her expression lights up out of her reverie when she notices Sakura and she rushes to the other girl so quickly that the hood on her head falls down to her shoulders, no longer hiding her silver hair like she'd tried to before.
Still, she smiles brightly and holds her hands out to the other girl.]
Да! Yes - but ah, just Anya is okay also?
[She understands honorifics but goodness knows she's never put them into practice.]
[... No idea what that initial exclamation meant, but Sakura's second language herself and can roll with it. Fighting back a giggle, she nods and grasps Anya's hands in greeting.]
Okay. Then you can call me Sakura if you prefer? It's a pleasure to meet you.
[Unflinchingly polite, this one. And with the introductions out of the way, she'll glance behind her at the gym.]
[SHE'S SO POLITE. Anya is impressed.... Anya is polite but too forward, way too forward. So she just hums as she glances toward the gym and tilts her head - ]
Mm, a little? Normally I go to the dance studio but...
[WELL.]
Новый... It is good to learn new things?
[they'll just rehash what zoro taught them individually it's fine]
[Oops - Anya looks just as uncertain for a moment, sheepish as she reaches up to play with the ends of her hair. Um...]
Ah - no, I am sorry... it is Russian.
You know Retrospec too, yes? A little bit after I got the app, my English... [er... she makes a little gesture sort of like something disappearing] Исчез? Poof? Gone?
[She's heard of Retrospec granting full understanding of languages to people, but taking it away? Sakura stares wide-eyed before it occurs to her that's probably rude, hands coming up in apology.]
Oh-- I mean, I think it's very pretty!
[Probably a strange reaction, but that's part of why Sakura asked - she wanted to learn the word if she could.]
[The wide-eyed stare is at least something that Anya isn't unused to. It makes her look a bit more sheepish for a moment, as if sure not how to explain. She opens her mouth to say that it's okay, it's weird, she knows -
But then Sakura says something very sweet. Anya blinks, and she responds so easily to kind words...]
Do you think...? Ah - cпасибо. Thank you. I am sure that it sounds a little silly but... it is nice of you to say so.
[Oh no, that is so cute... Usually it's Sakura who's eagerly babbling along in her native language whenever she finds someone willing to speak it, and seeing Anya's enthusiasm immediately sets the girl to giggling.]
Yep, I know it! Did you learn Japanese as a child?
[Sakura learned English as a kid, so she'd be perfectly willing to accept a Russian girl learning Japanese in her youth. After slipping through the door, she waits for Anya to lead. This is actually her first time to a gym... ever.]
Regardless Anya will go ahead and press on! She knows enough about weight training just because she's had to get stronger for physical combat stuff, so off they go.
Still though, she's vastly more interested in this. There's the shake of her head.]
No, it is a part of Retrospec giving it to me also. Anya's mama is Japanese but she did not teach me. It is a little hard... because I do not know English very well anymore - but learning new things is okay too?
Oh I agree, learning new things is good. It's why I'm glad I moved here.
[Not to suggest it hasn't been tough, of course. The culture shock alone still has her reeling most days. But as Anya suggests, this is... something. Much better than moping over what's lost.]
If you ever want to speak it with me, please feel free, okay? I don't get a chance to most days, unless I'm talking to my cats.
[Quickest friend she ever did make! A slight blush covers her cheeks, but Sakura is starting to assume this is just an American thing and she needs to stop being surprised.]
Mm, we are, aren't we? [GYM FRIENDS.] So tell me about yourself, Anya-sa-- I mean Anya.
[Ha, force of habit there. Anyway, they're likely on their way to the changing rooms -- Sakura's already dressed for the occasion, but she read online that you should bring a lock for your belongings!!! Yes yes, she did her homework.]
[Is it an American thing? Is it an Anya thing? The world may never fucking know. Regardless Anya is laughing a little bit at the correction, nodding in encouragement. Just Anya!]
About me? Mm... well - Пение? I am a singer? Dancer... I think it is called idol? It is new, but very fun! Is that the right answer for Sakura?
[Casually blends three different languages together for one answer.]
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Her expression lights up out of her reverie when she notices Sakura and she rushes to the other girl so quickly that the hood on her head falls down to her shoulders, no longer hiding her silver hair like she'd tried to before.
Still, she smiles brightly and holds her hands out to the other girl.]
Да! Yes - but ah, just Anya is okay also?
[She understands honorifics but goodness knows she's never put them into practice.]
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Okay. Then you can call me Sakura if you prefer? It's a pleasure to meet you.
[Unflinchingly polite, this one. And with the introductions out of the way, she'll glance behind her at the gym.]
Have you... been here before?
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Mm, a little? Normally I go to the dance studio but...
[WELL.]
Новый... It is good to learn new things?
[they'll just rehash what zoro taught them individually it's fine]
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Is that... English?
[Because if so, she has some words she needs to learn.]
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Ah - no, I am sorry... it is Russian.
You know Retrospec too, yes? A little bit after I got the app, my English... [er... she makes a little gesture sort of like something disappearing] Исчез? Poof? Gone?
Or it is not as good as before.
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Oh-- I mean, I think it's very pretty!
[Probably a strange reaction, but that's part of why Sakura asked - she wanted to learn the word if she could.]
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But then Sakura says something very sweet. Anya blinks, and she responds so easily to kind words...]
Do you think...? Ah - cпасибо. Thank you. I am sure that it sounds a little silly but... it is nice of you to say so.
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No, it's not silly. My first language is Japanese, and sometimes I have trouble thinking or speaking phrases in English.
[To such a point she starts babbling in her native language whenever she's upset, but ah well. Her friends have gotten used to it.]
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And looking so excited? She switches over to Japanese - it's still very basic, of course, but she gets excited over new languages regardless.]
Sakura knows this too? Amazing...!
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Yep, I know it! Did you learn Japanese as a child?
[Sakura learned English as a kid, so she'd be perfectly willing to accept a Russian girl learning Japanese in her youth. After slipping through the door, she waits for Anya to lead. This is actually her first time to a gym... ever.]
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Regardless Anya will go ahead and press on! She knows enough about weight training just because she's had to get stronger for physical combat stuff, so off they go.
Still though, she's vastly more interested in this. There's the shake of her head.]
No, it is a part of Retrospec giving it to me also. Anya's mama is Japanese but she did not teach me. It is a little hard... because I do not know English very well anymore - but learning new things is okay too?
[she's worked hard to find the positives....]
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[Not to suggest it hasn't been tough, of course. The culture shock alone still has her reeling most days. But as Anya suggests, this is... something. Much better than moping over what's lost.]
If you ever want to speak it with me, please feel free, okay? I don't get a chance to most days, unless I'm talking to my cats.
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[THEY SURE DID JUST MEET and yet Anya's dauntless about this. She hums happily.]
The same for Sakura. If you need anything, or want to talk like this, please tell Anya. We are friends now, after all.
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Mm, we are, aren't we? [GYM FRIENDS.] So tell me about yourself, Anya-sa-- I mean Anya.
[Ha, force of habit there. Anyway, they're likely on their way to the changing rooms -- Sakura's already dressed for the occasion, but she read online that you should bring a lock for your belongings!!! Yes yes, she did her homework.]
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About me? Mm... well - Пение? I am a singer? Dancer... I think it is called idol? It is new, but very fun! Is that the right answer for Sakura?
[Casually blends three different languages together for one answer.]
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[Congrats, Anya, you finally stunned Sakura into silence. The girl is openly gaping at this point.]
You're... famous?
[She doesn't know any other kind of idol, to be honest.]