Private TRANSplant

[Juniper Lockton]

Unable to sleep the night before, Jess, as she called herself now, wasn't even tired while she traveled to the airport. She was wired, anticipation and anxiety getting the best of her as she went through security and waited at the terminal. She tried to scroll social media on her phone, but it ended up being a cycle of scrolling for five minutes, tapping her foot against the floor all the while, putting the phone back in her bag, and repeat a minute or two later.

The only really unfortunate part of traveling this way was that she had to travel as Justin.

She'd done plenty of research about how to transition in Japan, though, and they were going to be close enough to Tokyo that she could get her levels checked, hopefully, pretty easily. One real worry she'd had was that Alice wouldn't really go through with it, that she was just leading her on and teasing her and wouldn't show up, leaving her stranded in a foreign country with no money. Her parents had made sure to capitalize on that fear to try and make her reconsider going, but she was adamant that she was doing the right thing in her own journey.

She just hoped that was actually true.

Finally, after nearly a full day of travel, she arrived at her terminal to look for her bags and Alice. She looked a little awkward, in a new place, already sweating bullets, but she'd sent Alice a picture of what she looked like and what she was wearing before leaving.

This was it, the beginning of her life in Japan, one way or another.

 

[Alice]

As it turned out, there was no reason for Jess to worry. Just as planned, Alice was there at the airport, her shock of blue hair standing out against the crowd of dark haired individuals around her. But what really drew the eye were the four large, burly men that stood around her as she awaited Jess' arrival.

When Alice's guest, or rather, new roommate, stepped off the airplane and into the terminal, that sight of four burly men ins suits standing around an equally well dressed Alice would be the first thing she'd see. And if there was any doubt in her mind about whether or not that was really Alice, and whether or not they were there for her, one of the men held a sign with the name 'Jess' written across it's face in exact blue lettering.

"Kon'nichiwa, Nihon e yōkoso" Alice greeted Jess as she approached, bowing towards her. The four men around her bowed as well, before straightening out, and the one nearest offered to carry any carry-on bags that Jess had on her person with a silent gesture.

"I hope you had a pleasant flight," Alice said with a perfect English accent.

Together, the small group would begin to walk to the baggage claim, drawing all sorts of eyes at the strange ensemble of people.

@Juniper Lockton

 

[Juniper Lockton]

"Arigatōgozaimasu!" Jess responded, flashing a handsome smile. It might be a shame for some, really, seeing such a pretty boy becoming a girl, but those that knew better knew she'd be even prettier once it was all said and done. Still, the smile she wore right now was just a mask, anyway.

She'd been practicing her Japanese plenty, but she was still only a month in to learning it. Her accent wasn't bad, but it wasn't quite natural by any means. Jess also provided her carry-on bag to the man who offered to carry it, keeping her backpack.

"I like your friends. They make me feel safe." She quipped, smirking a little, "Flight was okay, just glad to finally be here. It's like...I don't know how to explain it. Maybe like I can finally breathe? Whatever the case, you have my eternal gratitude." She looked relaxed, but she was still thinking that things could very quickly go south for her.

"I don't even know if I'm like, fully processing that I'm here right now, ya know? Might not be helping that I didn't sleep last night, heh."

@Alice

 

[Alice]

Alice returned the broad smile with the faintest one of her own, rather expressive for the girl who could typically be compared to calculator.

"I like your friends. They make me feel safe," Jess said as they walked stopped at the baggage claim. Alice's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and her nose scrunched up slightly as if she were puzzled. She looked up at one of the big, burly men, head tilted ever so slightly. "Watashitachiha tomodachidesu ka?" she asked the man who merely grunted in reply, neither and affirmation, nor denial.

Unperturbed by the non-answer, Alice faced forward once more. "They are exceptional at their work. Please indicate what luggage is yours, and my...friends," she Alice said the word with a hint of uncertainty, "will retrieve it for you."

"I am sorry that your flight was not as pleasant as it should have been," Alice apologized a bit too formally. "I will take any recommendations on how to improve the experience under consideration. Ah, and there is no need to thank us," Alice added, meaning herself and her mother, and by extension, their staff. "My mother has recently decided to impress upon me the importance of assisting others. I may not fully understand your predicament, but that does not mean I should not lend what assistance I can. This has been nothing, and we are honored by your presence."

@Juniper Lockton

 

[Juniper Lockton]

Perhaps Alice didn't register her smirk or her tone, but she looked a little confused when the girl asked the man next to her in Japanese if they were friends. Suddenly, more of her made sense as she realized she took a lot of things seriously or at face value rather than filtering them through a lens of social cues and norms. Was she perhaps autistic or something of that nature? It was hard to say, since she wasn't really a doctor and it was hard to say such things about someone from a wholly different culture.

It wasn't a big deal, either way, though. She let them have their small moment before continuing, and received a request to indicate her luggage to them. "Oh, there they are right there!"

She pointed to a pair of boring and black suitcases that looked full. They were full of everything she had from here on, after all. They were fittingly heavy, enough to make her struggle, even with her currently masculine frame and ability. Jess blinked at the idea that it was her responsibility to make her flight better than just okay, looking over nervously and waving her hands in front of her to dissuade her,

"No no, it's quite alright. There isn't much you can do for crying babies and stuff, ya know?" and then she replied to the touching, albeit deadpan, delivery of the next few sentences, "Well, know that you are greatly appreciated all the same. I hope you don't mind my current look. I need to go shopping as soon as I can for some...well, more appropriate stuff, I guess? I had to pack a lot of stuff I don't want to wear anymore so that my parents wouldn't get suspicious or anything. Some of it can pass as unisex but...you know..." She looked a little embarrassed, hoping that she didn't have to say it but realizing she probably should say it anyway due to the girl's aforementioned poor ability with discerning words between the lines, "I'd rather start living my life to the fullest as soon as possible, if you know what I mean."

 

[Alice]

With Jess' indication, there was no need for Alice to tell their entourage which bags to grab. Being the hulking masses of muscle they were, it was almost as if it took them no effort at all to pick up Jess' overladen bags and begin to pull them behind them as they guided the pair to their vehicle.

"Your appreciation is then noted," Alice said with a small nod as they walked. The baggage claim emptied out towards the arrivals area, the doors sliding open where a black sedan with tinted windows sat waiting for them, another large, muscular man standing by the door, which he pulled open as soon as he saw them approach. "If it pleases you, we can make a detour and go shopping immediately. Although, it may be wiser to allow you to settle in and unpack first. There is plenty of time, after all. And my mother is quite eager to make your acquaintance. I have never...'brought home a friend before,' as she put it," Alice said as she slid into the car, and once Jess was inside as well, the door was shut behind her.

@Juniper Lockton