Scene #2708: Wagashi Time

Owner	Pose
Chiyo Sakai	Nounamu Sweets was one of the more popular spots around for candy. Granted there was the konbini nearby as well, but for actual handmade sweets? This was the spot. Outside was a chalk billboard set up with decorative drawings of candy upon it, and the shop name 'Nounamu Sweets' while on the side of the building was a flag that simply read 'Wagashi'. The shop had no true sign to speak of other than the little hand drawn one. There's a few cafe tables outside, and more inside for those who wish to enjoy their sweets now instead of saving them for later. It's here that Chiyo can be found currently bussing off a few dishes that had been left by customers, and wiping down the tabletop with a damp cloth. Her attire is simple: Black slacks, a white shirt, and an apron with a colorful sprinkle pattern on it. It's the basic shop attire (other than Ojiisan the man behind the counter. He wore what he wanted.)
Lincoln Blackwell	Dressed in cut-off denim jacket and loose-fitting dark jeans, Lincoln was quick in through the door after he'd passed by the shop once and reversed back after. It was the promise of wagashi that had caught his attention, living on in the back of his mind already, and encouraged him inside. For a few moments, he looked a little lost as he made his way through the shop, eyeballing sweets and treats. And then his gaze jumped to the recognisable hair. "Aha!" Lincoln stated loudly. "Looks like I found the right one!" It ''was'' Tokyo, and he was just new and English enough to have struggled.
Chiyo Sakai	Chiyo Sakai lifts her head at the remark along with the somewhat familiar voice. That wasn't a phrase one said too often about the shop after all. Pink eyes blink quickly at Lincoln as she takes in the sight of the English boy only to break into a smile. "Ah, Lincoln-san! Welcome! I hope you didn't have trouble finding the shop?" Not that he was expected at any particular time of course but the remark made it seem as if he was perhaps uncertain about it. It was only polite to ask. The few plates she'd gathered stacked in hand are held carefully to avoid dropping while the other hand flips the cleaning towel to tuck into one of the apron pockets. It was clean enough, but it never hurt to tidy when there was time. The old man behind the counter was busy listening to a radio broadcasting the stats of some baseball game or another while he worked molding mochi into floral shapes, and filling them with different ingredients. Hearing an English accent he pauses to look up sending a rather suspicious squint at Lincoln -- But it's a blonde boy, not a redhead, so his head goes back down with a small grumble that was apparently acceptance of the newcomer into the shop.
Lincoln Blackwell	"It wasn't all that bad." Lincoln shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets with a sniff. "I just wasn't gonna set foot into another wagashi shop before this one, 'cause this one's got your reccommendations. How're you today?" The blonde tired to shrug casually. Still terrible in his attempts to seem far cooler than he actually was. He cleared his throat and glanced off toward the old man briefly. A hand slipped free to wave. "Hey!" Lincoln grinned now. "You must be Chiyo-san's granddad. Pleasure to meet you."
Chiyo Sakai	Chiyo Sakai half turns away for a few steps so she can place the plates in the bin meant to go back for washing so her hands are free, and she can properly pay attention. Turning again, just in time to see that oh-so-casual shrug, she finds herself cracking another grin at the greeting he offers to Ojiisan. "We are the best shop in my humble opinion," she remarks with a little chuckle. "Let me know if you want to try anything in particular, or I can make recommendations. Oh," she gestures with a sweep of her hand to the little drink station that was set up on a small table against the wall. "And we have two types of tea. Hot green tea or iced citron tea. It's sweet and refreshing for Summer." Ojiisan glances up again to give a curt upnod with his chin toward Lincoln though his grumpy expression doesn't seem to fade. "Welcome." It's curt, simple, but ... customer-servicey enough. Just wary. "England?" He asks curtly though he already knew the answer. Chiyo bites her lower lip while looking between the pair a moment. Slowly she steps a bit closer to Lincoln as if to say 'be good' while giving her grandfather a look.
Lincoln Blackwell	"Yeah, I'm from Manchester." Lincoln confirmed for the older man with a short nod. "Chiyo-san says you make all these yourself. That's pretty cool, like, not many places are still doin' it traditional-style back home anymore." With a grin, though, his attention wandered back to Chiyo and from there to the assortment of sweets set out before him. He hummed quietly to himself. "I'm pretty partial to matcha, yeah?" Because, of course he was. "But, I'll try the citron if you think it's good. Otherwise, I'll let myself be guided by your expert reccommendations. Everythin' looks great and it's hard to pick."
Mamoru Chiba	"--just an upperclassman, or specifically the one you admire, whether that's as a role model or romantically if you read too much shoujo manga," Mamoru's explaining to Roman as they come in the door to the shop, the tall skinny upperclassman holding the door open for the dazzling gold-plated estuary-accented Briton. He waves cheerfully to Lincoln and Chiyo and her grandfather. "Funny meeting you here," he says to Lincoln, smiling, then looks around him to see what he's getting.
Roman Talleday	"I still reckon that sounds a bit off, that's like... simpin' with more politeness--" Roman stepped in, taking in the general vibe of the place before spotting Lincoln and Chiyo as well. "Alright there, Casanever, what're you up to?" His grin and the glint in his blue eyes suggests mischief and knowing. "Chattin' up a sweet thing, are you?"
Chiyo Sakai	Ojiisan was currently glowering toward Lincoln as much as the man ever glowered. His usual expression was 'grumpy' to begin with although there were times his eyes would soften, and he would give freebies to those he liked. The response from the chatty Brit is met with a solemn quiet for a moment before the old man finally nods at the compliment about his work. This, apparently, appeased him even though -- "Manchester. Not London like the other one, then. Good. Good." So far his opinion of Londoners was NOT great. "Mm. Yes, it's a family business. Keeping the tradition alive." Then others were bustling in. "Chiba-san," he greets simply before turning back to his work to let the 'kids' talk. Chiyo lets out a little breath of relief since it seems he's not about to get super grumpy today. Again she smiles about to make a few suggestions, "Oh well there's the daifuku--" But then there was Mamoru. Or more importantly, there was Roman suddenly teasing about Lincoln 'chatting up a sweet thing' which causes her pink eyes to widen as her face goes completely red. Clapping her hands over her cheeks she quickly twirls around sending her plum curls bouncing as she rushes behind the counter. "I'llgetyouafewsamplesrealquick!"
Lincoln Blackwell	He'd barely had time to offer Mamoru a wave before Roman spoke out. From there, Lincoln had the appropriate appearance of a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming train with river blues darting rapidly between the old man and his ''granddaughter''. "''Roman''." Lincoln hissed back, his face several shades paler than it normally was. "Why are you like this?" And, for a boy from Manchester, that was ''pretty bloody pale''. He had to try to salvage it, though, spinning back toward Chiyo apologetically. "I'm sorry about my mate there, someone dropped him on his head as a child. I swear."
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru's eyebrows climb up, and then he frowns at Roman, after Chiyo flees. "Hey. Make his life hard, fine. Make her feel humiliated at your peril."
Roman Talleday	"What?" Roman doesn't really seem to understand, still visibly amused even as he turns to give Mamoru a quizzical look. "That's a bit rough, like. Ain't said nothin' out of pocket about her, have I? It's not humiliatin' for her if she fancies him, is it?" He snorted, stepping up beside Lincoln and tossing an arm about his shoulder to jostle him. "Not without it bein' insultin' to my lad, yeah? I'm all encouragement." He grinned.
Chiyo Sakai	Ojiisan watches Chiyo rush off momentarily before fixing his gaze back at the OTHER new English kid. Mamoru was here though so he just slaps down the bit of mochi he was working with sending into a tupperware container. A quick dust of his hands on his apron come as he utters, "I'll be in the back. Usual discount, Chiba-san." With that intoned he vanishes grumbling about school drama. At least this means that any justice speeches won't be an issue if overheard.
Lincoln Blackwell	Lincoln squinted at the other boy draped across him for a moment before he nodded off after the shop's proprietor. "That's her bloody ''granddad'', man." His voice was still a little hushed, but not to the point that Mamoru wouldn't be able to make it out. "Kinda paints me as a bit of a ''type'', yeah?"
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru's eyes darken and he drops his arms to his sides and squares his shoulders. He frowns actively, something about his ''presence'' briefly-- too much. Whether it's the way he's holding himself, like he's used to wearing authority easily if he has to, or it's something magically weighty about an old soul, or maybe it's the kid who was strange and scary learning to use his strangeness as a weapon-- he doesn't look like he's changed his stance at all, but he's shifted his weight. His gaze flicks to Lincoln, then to the leaving Ojiisan, and then back to Roman. "A girl's heart is a precious and sacred thing, and to joke in front of other boys about love in front of her is cruel. It makes her feel outnumbered and like her heart is on display to be laughed at. You don't know what she's been through! Apply a little basic decency to your interactions. If you can't help an innocent girl save face, what are you good for!"
Roman Talleday	Roman's cheek drops for a moment, faltering at the hissed whisper, before Mamoru launches into-- what Roman thinks is-- a monologue. Maybe it's a holdover from his villain days, these sort of speeches, and he's repurposed them into moral lessons or something. But, perhaps he's just really into the theatrics of it, because Roman has already well established that Mamoru is a wealthy eccentric. Was this Senpai energy? "Steady on, Mamoru-san, you've got it all wrong," Roman turns back to the other boy now, and squares up as well-- probably not with as much gravitas, but he points a finger at him. "When a bloke has feelings for a girl, he should make 'em plain! It takes some stones to hit on a bird in front of her grandad, I'll admit, but he should commit to it, yeah? And it's better than carryin' on, pinin' from afar!" He slapped Lincoln's back. "I'm not making a joke at the expense of Chiyo-san, or at the expense of love-- Maybe the real joke is the fact that my friend is trying to act like he ain't coppin' a crush!" There could have been a deerscare and a wave hitting a rock behind him, at the end of that.
Chiyo Sakai	Chiyo Sakai was currently behind the counter, behind the little pulled curtain that went to the back. Ojiisan enters through that as well giving her a nod in passing. It was her issue to deal with after all and he figured she wouldn't want her grandfather around to be embarassed in front of. This leaves her to catch her breath with another quick smack to her cheeks trying to chase away that flush of color she felt rise to them. Now was not the time to freak out, and anyway, Mamoru was out there too. It was safe. With a deep breath her shoulders square as she emerges again. A tray is carried with her which she holds onto with one hand as her path leads her to the display cases. Tongs are taken to withdraw a few fruit filled daifuku, some crunchy tanghulu fruit skewers, and perhaps as a bit of revenge the 'sour fruit candy' she was trying out: Grapes covered in a light candy coating of citric acid for super sour bite followed by the juicy sweetness of the grapes. With the tray loaded up she comes out toward the trio. "I got us a selection of items," she explains gesturing toward one of the cafe tables with a few chairs. "I take it you know these two, Mamo-kun? I only met them recently myself."
Lincoln Blackwell	Now leaning on the counter, Lincoln had the decency to bury his face in his folded arms. He shook his head slowly there. "I just wanted to try some candy..." It was both complaint and explanation to the universe. Chiyo's return saw him stand up again with a clearing of his throat and a tug at denim to straighten it. The facade of being way cooler than he actually was reestablished as quickly as he was able. Whether or not it was actually successful was neither here nor there. "Oh, they look ''amazin''', Chiyo-san." Lincoln grinned, though a nervous eye flashed Roman's way briefly. One of the daifuku was acquired and he brought it to his nose for a smell. Then he took a sizeable bite with rapidly widening eyes. "Rhahs 'annin'." No, Lincoln, you need to chew and swallow first--which he did. "I mean. That's bangin', sorry."
Mamoru Chiba	Oh no. Mamoru's glasses do a Koji thing, like, like Gendo Ikari glasses thing, and when he tilts his head up he's like +_+ under the shadow of his red-tipped bangs. "You--" he starts, puffing up in righteous indignation, and then, ,,, Chiyo comes back in. Mamoru deflates but keeps +_+ at Roman. Finally he tears his gaze away from the other boy and puts away the diamond glint of ill intent, looking back at Chiyo. "Yeah, I mean, they know I'm magic." And then he gets out his phone and starts texting. Mamo TXT: IM SO MAD AT ROMAN-SAN Usa TXT: the english boy? Mamo TXT: yes he humiliated chiyo and cannot seem to be able to accept that he did Usa txt: he what?! what happened?! what? Mamo TXT: i am at nounamu Mamo TXT: and the other english boy, linku-san, was in there talking to chiyo Usa txt: oh no it was in PUBLIC? Mamo TXT: me, ojiisan, lincoln, roman, chiyo. Mamo TXT: roman came in and was like Mamo TXT: oi oi oi bruv bruv you chattin up a sweet bird? yeah? yeah? Mamo TXT: and chiyo ran away Usa TXT: oh that's really embarrassing Mamo TXT: so i justice speeched him Usa TXT: i'm going to drown him in tea Mamo TXT: and he PRECURE SPEECHED ME BACK Mamo TXT: >:C Usa TXT: on what grounds Mamoru lowers his phone and +_+ at Roman a little more, but distractedly this time. "Chiyo-chan, I'm going to sic Usako on them. That's worse than Ojiisan." He goes back to typing.
Roman Talleday	Roman's settled down out of his pose and furrowed his brows, passing a look at Lincoln-- maybe he got swept up in the theatre. He wasn't entirely sure why he matched Mamoru's energy like that, but he wasn't thinking too deeply about it just now. Chiyo had a tray of sweets. "You're so intense, sometimes, man," he baffled at Mamoru, who was presently texting back up, and shook his head to step after Lincoln. "Can I have some, Chiyo-san?"
Chiyo Sakai	In spite of the embarrassment, there's an actual, honest enjoyment that fills Chiyo's gaze when she watches someone try the shops' fare and enjoy it. The corner of her lips curl into a vague smile in response to the mouth-full-of-food compliment that Lincoln clarifies once he swallows. "Thanks. It's our specialty." The texting Mamoru earns a raised eyebrow. The other quickly joins it when he mentions he's bringing in her cousin--A fact that earns a laugh. "Good idea. The windows here don't open after all." The grin deepens with a glint in her eye as she nods a single time. "Ah, so they know. Then I guess it's okay to talk of such things... Although," she adds, gaze snapping back toward Roman with a suspicious look. "He already mentioned 'Red' around me. I had a feeling." Roman's question earns a nod as she rotates the tray so that the candied grapes are facing him. "Sure. Try this first," she suggests with a completely innocent grin.
Lincoln Blackwell	Lincoln was swallowing down the remainder of his daifuku when his attention shifted to Mamoru slowly. Nervously. He was going to ''sic'' someone on ''them''. "What'd I do?" His tone was one of harrassed bafflement now. "I feel like you're sendin' me up now, Mamo-man." A pause. A drift back to Chiyo and furrowed brows. "You know Rome's dad, then?" That seemed pretty unlikely, but there was something about how knowing that name offered suggestion to her about ''them''. "Yeah, nah. Oolong, this one wasn't me right?" Something tucked into his shirt grunted disapprovingly.
Mamoru Chiba	"Of course I'm intense," Mamoru grumbles, jamming his phone in his pocket. "All the black silk gets to you after a while." Then he blinks at Chiyo. "Red? As in, like, the Puella?" He glances out the window, then gives Lincoln a little shake of his head. "Nah you're fine. Him, I meant him. I mean unless you think you said something before I got here, but you looked like you were having an absolutely fine time without intervention of any kind."
Roman Talleday	"Oh, yeah? They look like Barnetts," Roman plucked up a candied grape, inspecting it for a moment, before he popped it into his mouth. A crunch, and a twist of his face-- the lance of sourness, and the sweetness of grape. He tilted his head as if he's been smacked, but the wicked looking smirk followed it up with a laugh. "Oho-- Yeah, they're like Barnetts, alright. That's good and proper sour that." He scrunched his nose, chewing at it, but reached for another one. "What about Red?"
Usagi Tsukino	Usa TXT: what could he justice speech you about?! Mamo TXT: on account of his friend being honest about his feelings! Usa TXT: BUT THAT'S NOT A REASON TO BE EMBARRASSING ABOUT IT Mamo TXT: yeah and i cant keep yelling at him bc chiyos back Usa TXT: well i'd yell at him in front of chiyo-chan. do you want me to yell at him? Usa TXT: i probably wouldn't actually yell at him Mamo TXT: i didnt actually yell either Mamo TXT: just, you know, justice speeched Usa TXT: oh i know. it takes a lot for you to yell Usa TXT: i just meant that i could! reassure you! i wouldn't come in yelling Mamo TXT: im preening now. Mamo TXT: i mean yeah i'd love to see you give him what for, it's like one of my hobbies, watching you tell people off Mamo TXT: well, I mean. watching you Usa TXT: oh its good that your hobby is one of my hobbies! Mamo TXT: XD XD XD To say that Usagi is - ''concerned'' when she walks through the door of Nounamu Sweets is an understatement. Chiyo has bad luck with boys and tends to ''dwell'' on bad luck, and a pretty boy embarrassing her while ''another'' pretty boy maybe flirts with her, it's just not what she needs! When she walks through the door, twintail tips fluttering around her ankles, she's wearing a cerulean mini skirt and a two-toned pink long-sleeved shirt, with the sleeves bunched up around her elbows, a cute bow that matches both sleeves and skirt at her throat. Her cellphone's tucked into the breast pocket of her shirt and she comes waltzing in with a smile and eyes that flick from boy to boy until she casually latches onto Mamoru's arm. "Hey, everyone~!"
Chiyo Sakai	Chiyo Sakai regards Roman with a bemused expression as she had brought up Red. Of course, so had said he'd 'been shipped out' by Red when they first met. That seemed like something a soldier would say, or someone who was forced to do something they didn't want to. Both scenarios were more in line with Obsidian in her epxerience. Now? She just looks completely confused Lincoln mentions his dad is this mysterious 'Red' that 'shipped him out.' "Wait, his dad?" It takes a moment for it to sink in that she had apparently completely misunderstood the situation when they first met. It's her turn to look embarassed again, though thankfully it's far less serious a situation than what had sent her running to the back a few moments ago. "Ah. I... I see. The way you said he sent you here, I thought you were working for a group we deal with frequently." Thankfully Usagi arrives as a distraction! "Hey Usagi-chan," she greets feeling at least a bit more like she wasn't outnumbered by cute boys now. (Not that Mamoru counted. He totally did but not like that.) "Oh, right, they're sour," she thinks to remark but it seems Roman didn't mind since he's going for another.
Lincoln Blackwell	"Yeah, his dad. My parents also sent me out after they got the invite letter in the mail." Lincoln noted with a slight shrug. "There were some problems back at Manchester Grammar already and the promise of a good football scholarship was a little too good to pass up." And by ''football'', his British-ness clearly meant ''soccer'' to some. There was a touch of strange pride when he mentioned that, skilled as he was. "My dad's a labourer and mum's a hairdresser from Chelmsford, originally. She moved to Manchester with my dad when I was little." Lincoln offered Usagi a short wave as he spoke and then eyed Mamoru. "What's a Puella when it's at home, then?"
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru visibly gets all his chill back when Usagi walks into the shop. It's like magic. It's, as Kazuo has previously put it, something to do with physics. Her arm links with his and he bends toward her, down, kisses the top of her head. Well they already knew he was a wife guy. "Oh you've got super sours? I want some of those, definitely, too. Going to put them in Kazuo's snack drawer and see what happens." In the background, in the touch between Usagi and Mamoru, there's a replay like a sense impression, quick and indignant, showing how jolly about it Roman was... and then he nods ahead toward Roman and says very surreptitiously and totally sotto voce, "He doesn't even have the decency to dislike sour candy." He shakes his damn head. Then he grins at Lincoln. "Well, this one's got a whole lot of rockets and explosives, and is very American. They're a kind of magical girl, Puella Magi. Our friend is one, and she goes by Red, too. She's nice."
Roman Talleday	"Alright, Usagi-san?" Roman greeted, before glancing back at Chiyo. "Nah, that's my bad... I made it sound off, probably, 'cause I was sore at him." Roman inclines his head, "He is a bit regimented, like, my old man. That whole side of the family's a bit strict. It's true, I didn't get too much choice about it." He chews another grape, which gets another shuddering reaction-- apparently mixed with enthusism and enjoyment-- before Roman clarifies for everyone, "My dad's Rediko Voznesensky-- as in, the Voznesensky School of Ballet. He's a copper, these days, but he had a whole career as a Danseur... And I grew up trainin' to be one too, up 'til I backed off about a year ago." He grimaced a bit.
Usagi Tsukino	Chiyo is given a little wave, as are Lincoln and Roman, as Mamoru is kissed (this requires much tiptoes and tugging on his arm so he bends his head), and she reviews the situation, sharing her impressions with Mamoru - that Roman is a bit of an idiot, that he probably meant well, that that was ''stupid'', that she will try and talk to him about it later, because Chiyo might get embarrassed again - "You were training to be a copper, or a danseur?" The question is genuine - it sounds like he could be either one! She... isn't actually sure if a danseur is just a dancer but in England English, or a special type of dancer, but either way..." "My parents made me come to Radiant Heart too! I mean, it's different for me, because they still live in Tokyo, but, I've been there too. I hope you're at least liking it here."
Chiyo Sakai	Chiyo Sakai watches the lovebirds a moment. Only a moment. Her eyes roll up and away in silent exasperation at their PDA although she does smile none the less over it. They were cute. It was just weird to watch! The smile falls instead on Lincoln as he explains his own origins with a smile. "Oh that's nice! Ojiisan and my late grandmother ran this place together." And naturally she helped out there too. There's a notable lack of mention about her parents though she smoothes it over by remarking, "Usagi-chan is my cousin a few times removed. Our grandmothers were sisters."
Lincoln Blackwell	"The American likes explosions and rockets? Colour me unsurprised." Lincoln said with a faint grin, not quite mean-spirited in the flavour of his voice. More just a cheeky knowing. It took Lincoln a little while, but eventually he managed to get there. River blues flicked to Roman with brows furrowed and he kicked his head into a slight tilt. "You're a ''ballerino'', man?" His tone was almost one of abject disbelief, but not quite. After all, he had seen Rome in fights and the man definitely moved with a special kind of grace. Unlike Lincoln, who was all rapid movements and coordination... which, now that he was thinking it, sounded an awful lot like dancing anyway. "Yeah, right." Lincoln pursed his lips and nodded slowly. "Fair on, then." His attention was snatched off toward Usagi and he offered the blonde a very awkward dip of his head. "Good to meetcha, Usagi-san."
Mamoru Chiba	Whatever else their PDA was, it was communication that saves Chiyo face: Usagi ''won't'' lecture Roman in front of her, and Mamoru will drop it. He shifts his stance and looks interested when Roman talks about ballet-- "Yeah, no wonder you're so graceful," he says, taking an analytical eye to the younger boy's carriage and bearing, tapping his chin.
Roman Talleday	"It's different... not good at school, either way, but this place is well fancier than what I was at." Roman offers Usagi a lopsided smile, and nods to her and Mamoru. "Dancin', but... Trained since I was about six, formally. Adagio." He passes Lincoln and Chiyo a look, "Baba-- that's my grandmother, you know-- was the School Mistress, and she handled most of my instruction. Red used to dance too, though, he was my Repetiteur. S'like a coach, yeah? He kept me on routine, helped plan my diet, prepped me before a performance and that..." There was something nice about the exchange and understanding, with Chiyo's Grandparents having handed down skills to her in a similar way. He took another grape sweet. "Think I'd be laughin' if my family ran a sweet shop instead, but."
Usagi Tsukino	"Good to meet you both too! You won't find any traditional sweets better than here at Nounamu!" As should be ''obvious'', by their very presence here, but she's looking at Roman with interest as he explains more about his background, and she makes a face. "Since you were six? That's taking things way too seriously! Ugh, that sounds like my grandpa with my papa, no thanks." Honestly, that could be taken rudely, but she's not intending this to be harsh on Roman's family - it's just clear that the idea of being trained up for a role since childhood isn't ''exactly'' her favorite. Her future daughter struggling with having to grow up to be Sailor Moon isn't influencing her, shut up.
Chiyo Sakai	There was a bit of familiarity there with how Roman explains his own upbringing. Some not so familiar as he mentions his father being a part of his life--but he doesn't mention his mother. For a moment Chiyo debates asking, as she glances off after her grandfather thoughtfully. "I still get up early enough to make the mochi for the day, even though I don't do it as often anymore. I'm so used to it. I know candy doesn't seem like such a big thing but it's really physical work, and there's an artistry to it, too. Especially the traditional wagashi. Forming it into different flowers or other designs..." She allows herself to trail off a bit as her gaze sweeps back to the others. "Sorry, it's what I know. I get a bit rambly with it." Lightly she clears her throat. "But I understand the family business thing." Glancing toward Lincoln again she allows a slight grin to come. "What about you? What brought you here?"
Lincoln Blackwell	Lincoln shrugged faintly. "What else is a lad from Manchester gonna be doin' at a bougie school in Tokyo?" The shift, however, was far less subtle than it should have been and the blonde lit up. "Football, man. They wanted me for the Radiant Hearts team, I guess, and I'm pretty good at it." Of course, he now knew that it also had to do with his extracurricular activities. Which, you know, probably included soccer but, in this ''specific'' case, was less shorts and a pitch, and far more ouji outfits and tea. Lincoln wasn't sure he could get away with letting that one out without Oolong ripping him one later. "Dad's a labourer, yeah? So, he likes his football too, but I didn't have anyone pushin' me quite the way Rome's describin'. Which..." He shrugged and eyed the other English lad. "Yeah, fallin' into the thing I like is probably better. Did anyone ever ask you if dancin's what you wanted or nah?"
Mamoru Chiba	There's a lot of Mamoru smiling, and also of Mamoru getting out a pen and pad from his pocket and scribbling down his wagashi and lollipop orders. He nods along with the conversation and laughs appropriately, and he doesn't have anything to add and feels awkward now and-- (has nothing to say about family or being six, they're going to notice he's not talking about family at all or about childhood at all about anything at all it's so ''stupid'' to be anxious about this when he's so very good at masking and besides they're not even-- they wouldn't ''care'', but he'd have to admit it and) --he takes Usagi's hand and presses his list into it with a wry expression that does not at all mask his social anxiety in the contact. "I just remembered the sourdough. I'll meet you at home, okay?" He looks up at Chiyo, and at the two boys, and he gives them a careless wave as he heads out the door.
Roman Talleday	Roman scrunches his nose at Usagi, still smiling a little, and it suggests that he doesn't disagree with her sentiments. "Dancers with professional goals gotta start early like that. Some start at three," His brows rise at her, knowing she'll probably be shocked to hear that, "Never much later than eight, ideally. Especially dancin' pointe, you wanna be up like by twelve." He pops another grape into his mouth, perhaps slightly evasive, "I mean it ain't as simple as if I wanted to or not, like, I always thought I did. It's just been what I always knew, like..." Though, he snaps his fingers at Chiyo to nod. "Yeah. And that's exactly it. It's demandin' and people underestimate it, but the results are an artform. It's history, it's a legacy... I feel you. Takes a bit." Then, Mamoru is leaving, and Roman's still chewing grape when blinks after him. Is he being ditched? Man, maybe he did mess up somewhere. They'll probably punch it out in the shed later, but even while waving him off, he looks a little concerned. "Later, Mamoru-san..." After the door rings and the fluffy haired boy has left, Roman looks to Usagi. It's that quiet question-- is Mamoru upset with him properly? Is this a polite Japanese way of cutting him off?
Usagi Tsukino	"''Three''?! What kind of three year old can balance like that - maybe that's just a me problem," oh that's a belated realization, and she flashes a grin at Roman before becoming aware of the brewing turmoil right beside her. She realizes in an instant that the conversation has taken a turn that's awkward for her husband who was orphaned at the age of six and doesn't remember his family. This candy shop has become the center of a discussion on family businesses and histories and expectations. Usagi is thinking, ''well, we'll just get our candy and then we'll head out, maybe have a date that doesn't get interrupted.'' She's about to propose that idea, when Mamoru presses a list into her hand, his touch full of his whirring social anxiety. He's verbalizing an excuse to leave and heading away before she can even pass along the message of 'but Mamochan I'm only here because you texted me, MAMOCHAN I'M ONLY-' "Aaaand he forgot that he asked ''me'' to come meet ''him'' here," she says with an awkward little laugh, and turns about on her heel to her cousin. "Chiyo-chan, can you please pretty please fill this order so I can catch up to him before he remembers he can teleport the rest of the way home and I need to catch the bus?" Roman's caught her eye, looking concerned, but she shakes her head at him and then offers a little thumbs up - it's not you! Promise! No hard feelings! As soon as her cousin fulfills that favor, she'll be rushing out the door, tossing a 'goodbye and nice to meet you' over her shoulder.
Chiyo Sakai	The apparent tension that was among half of the newlywed pair goes unnoticed by Chiyo up until Mamoru ducks down to kiss Usagi goodbye. Instantly her face crumbles to a look of apologetic worry. "Ah, right, yes! Sorry Usagi-chan!" Though she had been enjoying the talk with Roman and Lincoln (once past the whole embarassment), she quickly turns away with a light pat to Lincoln's shoulder before she vanishes behind the counter. The usual lollipops, a few new flavors included. Wagashi, some of the 'super sours' he'd requested, and goodness knows probably a handful of something else to apologize for getting that far off topic are thrown in. It's all bagged up and offered to Usagi with a quick shooing motion. "Go get him!" With that all done she's left taking a deep breath from the sudden flurry of activity so that she can regain her composure. "... Sorry, he has a bit of social anxiety especially around certain topics. Family and stuff," she explains with a look back toward Roman and Lincoln. No more detail than that, though.
Lincoln Blackwell	Lincoln was staring after Mamoru and Usagi with an almost unreadable expression drawn across his face. After a short while, he turned to Roman with a shrug. "They're a bit different, aren't they?" He asked with a curious hum. "I like 'em." His gaze was directed to Chiyo finally and he grimaced. "Oh yeah, that makes way more sense. I just figured Mamo-man was rich and eccentric, but I can see how talkin' about family gets a way for some people." There was no way that Lincoln could know the details of it or even properly empathise, given how determinedly ''normal'' his own family life had been. But, Manchester was full of kids their age who didn't like to talk about their home life. That was all likely to get heavy, though. "The wagashi is absolutely ''amazin''', though." Lincoln tried to change the subject.
Roman Talleday	The explanation is possibly even worse, and Roman makes a groaned noise and momentarily buckles-- bending and swaying as if he might collapse-- though it's just an exaggerated display. "Man, I didn't know he had like... family issues or nothin', but? Gone yappin' about all that like I got my arse on backwards," He sighed, "Tragedy's how half of 'em ''get'' rich and eccentric in the first place, isn't it?" Rubbing at his cheek, Roman resolved to see about all that later. When in doubt? Send a card. There was a card for everything. That's what Red would say. "Still, yeah. The grapes are tops. It's so hard findin' proper sours, here."