Scene #2840: Too Quiet

Owner	Pose
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru has parked himself slouched in the back corner of the cat cafe, at his favorite table, and he looks uneasy as he sips at his ginger beer. In front of him on the table are some textbooks and an ipad, and untouched cake, and his eyes are closed, and he says, "Yes but you'll have to split it equally."
Chibiusa Tsukino	Chibiusa is sitting at the same table as Mamoru, not far away from him. Whatever conversation is going on right now is simultaneously above her head and beneath her. Which is to say that she's not really paying attention to it. Her lips are on a straw, and the straw is dipped into a cup of apple juice, and she is productively blowing bubbles. She stops just in time to hear the last sentence. "Okay fine but you're cutting and I'm picking." Chibiusa has no idea if that was even related, but she'll do her best to fake it.
Usagi Tsukino	"Okay, well, if I'm cutting, and you're picking, then I'm cutting ''really carefully'' and no one can judge me because I tried my best." Usagi does not have a knife, but that's no problem, because the cake is equipped with something to cut it. She has homework and she has hunger and the one is pulverizing the desire to do something with the other to a pulp.
Aloisia Harlaown	Aloisia Harlaown has shown up to the Cafe BAKE Neko for one thing and one thing only! ... Okay two things because the food is good too, but mostly, because, well. CATS. Look, Aloisia has started embracing her love of cute things. It's fine. And totally normal. Talk of cutting cake gets a calm approach by a certain knight, who flicks a knife out of her Device briefly, calmly stepping up and leaning over Usagi to casually take over the cutting. "Well! I suppose I should have expected to see you here, but it's a pleasant surprise nonetheless." Aloisia says, her tone warm and cheerful. "All is at least moderately well, I hope?"
Amy Faust	CATS! Amy smiles as soon as she's in sight of them, walking in and crouching to pet cats that come near the entrance. "Oh, hi guys!" ...She was going to come in further and maybe get food but she is rapidly distracted by cats, petting and kneeling to lean over and very gently hug if they'll let her, and soon she's sitting on the floor petting cats, smiling, food forgotten.
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru pushes cake and knife and fork over to Usagi and smiles at Chibiusa. His smile's a little white around the edges, as it were, and he shakes his head. "I know, I know I'm the psychic one, but-- I think-- I think the stuff is getting closer. I think that's what this is. I'm starting to lowkey feel like that Kyoto train station before he turned up the nightmare juice to eleventy. Nothing else is going ''wrong'' and this is a ''different'' kind of unsettled--" Mamoru's voice is getting less put-together, somehow, until Aloisia shows up and cuts the cake for them and his shoulders relax, his aspect relaxes, but only down to where he was before he wound himself up. "Alo-kun," he greets their knight with a wry look. "Nah. Monster's taking the slow boat from Kyoto."
Chibiusa Tsukino	Yesss. Chibiusa guessed correctly. Now there is cake, and it's being cut. She stares at Usagi with narrow eyes that communicate very clearly that silently judgement is being passed, but then Aloisia comes along to cut the cake instead. Small Lady looks up to her and says, "Hello." Amy also is noticed, but Amy is having kitty time, and kitty time is a sacred time that must not be disturbed. So if she catches sight of her she'll wave, but she otherwise stays quiet. Once the cake is cut, she reaches out to take the slice she likes the best and dumps it on her plate, letting it fall sideways. Under the table her legs kick excitedly as she presses the side of her fork into the dessert. Then she remembers the Impending Doom and her legs stop. "Right. They never want to just show up and get it over with. They gotta let you simmer a bit first."
Usagi Tsukino	"Hi Amy-chan, Alo-oooh, Alo-chan, yeah, you're a knight! You can definitely cut!" How are those two things connected well, don't worry about it, don't ask her, just take it on faith that they are definitely connected. That's what she's doing, and she pats a seat at their table so Aloisia can sit with them. Chibiusa is kicking her feet a little, they're all enjoying a good time - And then, well, Mamoru brings up the unspoken weight in the room, and the cake is still good, but it's not ''as'' good, because there's the pressure of it. Again. The fact that they're waiting for an enemy to come and find them, to come and try and take their city... "I wish he'd cut it out," she says with a huff, and shoves a bite of cake in her mouth, her voice becoming muffled when she says, "Orf at weast hurmy it mup."
Laura La Mer	Laura comes in the cafè, accompanied by Kururun as usual, but someone is next to her too. "Well, I see you are already having a party! Don't mind if I invite myself", she comments smiling, walking in assuredly and waving at her friends. Sharon is next to her, and bows to everyone politely, closing the door behind them. "Good day, everyone, I hope you are having a pleasant time." Both girls take a spot at the table, and Laura takes shell cookies out for Kururun to enjoy. "So, what's up? Anything fun going on?" she asks while Sharon takes a look at the cake. "It looks delicious. Could you give us both a slice, Mamoru-san?" Her smile gets a little wider and she adds jokingly, "Each, please", as if anything else were normal.
Aloisia Harlaown	Amy gets a small smile, Aloisia's hand lifting to wave towards her as she dispels the knife she'd summoned from her Device. She can clean it later. "Hm? Ah, I see. So it's the calm before the storm, and it's got you on edge." Aloe muses thoughtfully for a few moments. "It sounds like we'll know roughly where and when it'll show up though, so it sounds like we have plenty of time to plan and get ready." Aloisia opts to claim a seat at the table. It's possibly a little rude, but so is sneaking in to cut someone else's cake, so it's probably fine, they haven't yelled at her yet. As she sits, she does bow her head lightly towards Chibiusa. "Hello, princess." She comments, her tone warm and friendly. That subtle movement and excited kicking gets a warm smile on her face, though she doesn't actively comment on the excitement. Aloisia, in spite of the weight of the room, laughs rather lightheartedly. "Indeed, Usa-chan, I can in fact cut quite well." She flashes a grin, an ever so slight edge of playful danger to her grin, though there's no actual darkness to it. ... The muffled talking with her mouth full brings back that laughter as she lifts her hand to call the waiter over and order something rather quickly. The arrival of Laura and Sharon gets a small nod. "Hm, I think at this rate we might need to order another cake. Perhaps a new flavor. Or a sampler."
Amy Faust	Amy looks over. "Huh?" Oh right, friends! She pets the kitties one more time and walks over to that table to take a seat -- and any cats that hop on an adjacent seat or the table still get petted. (She'll carry one over if they're OK with being picked up) Her face falls a ''little'' at the subject of discussion. "So he's making his move... great. I wonder why it affects-- oh, right. Psychic ''and'' Earth." And then she double-takes at a face she hasn't seen in ages. "Sharon??? ...How are you doing? What are you doing these days?"
Mamoru Chiba	"By all means, have at, Sharon-san," Mamoru says as warmly as he can when he's visibly tense and uneasy. He doesn't lean forward to do it, he leans back away with his ginger beer, tipping his head back against the wall. And then the prince chuffs out a laugh, voice low. "Someone else can pick, though, I'm not really up to eating but don't want to be alone, sorry." "Psychic and earth with also plant type attacks-- including solar beam," he tells Amy, then carefully sips his ginger-to-the-face beverage. "I claim SO MANY pokemon."
Chibiusa Tsukino	Chibiusa glances at Laura and Sharon as they approach, smiling up at them both. "Hi, Sharon! We were just talking about cake and nightmares." Then Chibiusa glances around at the rest of the table and ''pulls out a knife''. Where did she get that knife? Who gives a knife to a child? Why does the knife have Luna-P's smile on it? Actually that last question probably answers the first two. Chibiusa carefully cuts out a pair of pieces for Laura and Sharon and puts each on a plate. She has to lean over the table in order to do so. Hopefully she doesn't lean into anyone's food. After sitting back down with an awkward smile to Mamoru, she comments, "Well, you're certainly not alone ''now''."
Usagi Tsukino	"Another cake with a different flavor definitely can't hurt! And - Chibiusa-chan, Luna-P, please make sure that's a cake knife." It's not that she thinks Chibiusa is too young to have knives - it's that she thinks Chibiusa should ''not'' be trusted with knives. She knows her daughter! She's brave, kind, good, and pointed a gun at Usagi once and she would do it again! "Laura-chan, Sharon-chan, you're always welcome to cake... we're just talking about the latest enemy coming to Tokyo. We know he's coming, and we know he's getting closer, and we're still figuring out a way to stomp him."
Laura La Mer	Both girls share a glance at hearing Aloisia's comment. Did they not stumble on a party then? Is it anything Laura should be warning the Queen about? She grins widely at Usagi's explanation. "Stops are good. I am all for stomps. Any way I can come in?" She looks at Chibiusa at her explanation, brightening up at the pinkette's presence. "That is different. So, what, we gotta give our fears a taste too?" she asks. "Thank you, Mamoru-san", Sharon comments, and gives a nod at Amy. "I am doing well. I have been getting used to life her, and keeping up with school. Laura-chan and I have been fighting against Layabouts, too.", and she greets Chibiusa. "Hi, Chibiusa-chan. You grew up, I see." Sharon lets a cat sniff her hand once one passes by, and starts petting it once she has met her approval. "We are doing great. Sharon is a natural", Laura adds with a proud smile.
Aloisia Harlaown	Aloisia opts for the simple solution to 'somebody else can pick' and just orders a cake sampler, that way those that are up to eating can all share. "Hmm. Psychic attacks are rough. I can't say I fancy going through that sort of thing again, but well... it's not like we can choose who's being rude at any given time." Aloisia taps her lip thoughtfully at that. Hmm. Earth magic was the kind of magic she liked dealing with though. Nice and straightforward. Plants could be a pain. Aaaand then there's suddenly a Luna-knife. Something which Aloisia stares at for a moment. "...Well, that's... a moderately offputting appearance." She says with a soft chuckle. "Though useful nonetheless." Seriously, those /eyes/ though. They stare into the soul. "I went with a sampler, I'm sure there'll be something for everyone." Also her lap has become the spot for a cat in the short time she's been sitting. This is all as planned. Sort of. "The others know more about it. I've been focused on my studies recently. So much catching up to do." She gives a simple nod. "Ah, right, I don't believe we've met as of yet." Aloisia says, her head dipping into a bow towards hte two. "At least not really. I am Aloisia Harlaown, younger sister of Chrono Harlaown. I am also known as Kristallritter, the Crystal Knight of the Earth and Moon." ...Yeah she's bad at the secret identity thing. She must take after her older brother.
Amy Faust	Amy giggles as Mamoru runs with the pokémon metaphor, calling back to yesterday's banter. "I wonder what types ''I'' count as." She's curious, but ''also'' another expression flickers across her face as if there's a cringy in-joke she's dodging. "Cake sounds good!" she smiles, and nods to Sharon. "I'm glad you're finding a place here." LuKnife. "...Are there ''any'' limits on what that can turn into...?"
Mamoru Chiba	"I mean-- there's a flood of metaphorically radioactive nightmare sludge energy rocking up the leylines from Kyoto to Tokyo to reinforce this guy that's going to attack us soon after the flood gets here." Mamoru shivers. "I can feel it. It's like watching all the wildlife in the forest run past you at the same time as the forest floor's trying to open up beneath... you..." He doesn't look well; he lightly scrubs the top of Chibiusa's head with his hand like an annoying big kid, but there's affection and unease in the touch. He gets up, and bends to kiss the top of Usagi's head. "I'm sorry, I gotta go lie down. Room's spinning." And-- the choice is difficult for Usagi until Mamoru says, "Chibiusa-chan, can you bring Usako's cake upstairs with you when you come? Please don't eat it..." And he just needs a hand making sure he doesn't actually lose his balance or anything. So whoops, they go together!
Laura La Mer	Well, Aloisia is in good company. Laura has no particular care for subtletly, and Sharon has allies and friends now, she doesn't any reason to keep secrets. "I am from the lost snow country of Chanteur, but people around here think I hail from Mongolia", she tells Aloisia. People can get the feeling that word choice was definitely intentional. "What about Fire-Steel?", Laura picks up on the discussion about games, looking at Amy. "That seems the natural choice to me with your powers. And I think I would fit well as Water-Fairy." "I will be sure to give him a good kicking for you if he tries bothering you", Laura tells Mamoru when he announces his need for rest. "May only happiness find you in your dreams", Sharon adds.
Chibiusa Tsukino	"It can't turn into a car," says Chibiusa, responding to Amy, "or anything significantly too big. Aside from that I think it's pretty versatile. A gun, a knife, a parachute. It also turns into my Pink Moon Stick. I actually haven't found a reasonable limit." The knife turns back into Luna-P, who hovers over Chibiusa's shoulder. Never mind the spot of cake crumbs behind its ears. Mamoru gets up to leave, and Chibiusa frowns with concern. She ''could'' eat Usagi's cake, or do something mean to it, but honestly she's not feeling particularly troublesome right now. There's a big difference between tearing someone off her high horse and kicking someone when they're down. "Um... I should go too," she says, grabbing both her plate and Usagi's, then scooting out of the seat. "It was nice to meet you again, Sharon! Bye~e!" Then she's walking off after her alt-parents.
Aloisia Harlaown	Amy gets a curious look, Aloe taps her lip lightly. "Hmm... from the impacts of your attacks when I was your antagonist..." Aloisia muses out loud. "Rock/fire type. Rock for Explosion." She states simply. Laura's comment gets a small nod. "That's not a bad option either." And then Mamoru starts to seem like he's not doing alright, mentioning the room spinning and talking about how it's flooding in. A part of her is somewhat glad that she's not sensitive. The rest of her is considering some sort of Barrier or Wall spell that can protect against psychic attacks. Hmm. She'll have to tinker with that. "Rest well." She says generally towards the Tsukino's, offering each one a smile and little bow of her head. Finally, back towards Laura, she smiles warmly. "I see! That sounds like an interesting place to call home, it sounds quite cold. I'm originally from the world of Tungeturm, in Belkan space. I ended up here for less-than-noble reasons, things happened, I briefly became the soulless pawn of a Lost Logia, and now I'm here." That's a bit of an understatement, but hey, she's not lying at least.
Amy Faust	Amy blinks. "Fire/steel dual-type... could be..." She taps her chin thoughtfully. And then Mamo's heading off, explaining why he feels terrible. "Oof. Uh... okay, we may have to talk to Emi if it's... ''doing'' something to you, but.... for now, try to rest. Hope you feel better soon..." She grimaces, not really able to think of anything to do to help with nightmare psychic emanations. "Tungeturm... you said before, that was an airless world because of something that was ''done'' to it, right...?"
Laura La Mer	"Bye, Chibiusa-chan! See you soon!", Laura waves after the pinkette, and turns to Aloisia again. "I am not from there, that's Sharon's! I am from Grand Ocean, a great underwater kingdom of which I am the next Queen!", she sits up straighter. "What is Tungeturm like, Aloisia-san?", Sharon asks politely.
Aloisia Harlaown	"Talking with more people who know the situation is always helpful, I can agree with that being a good course of action." Aloisia says to Amy, giving a simple nod. "Perhaps we can work with Rashmi, Chrono, and the other Device users to potentially figure out a form of barrier to block the worst of its effects -- of course, there is also following the directions left in our base." She comments. Aaand then questions of Tungeturm. That gets a very slightly uncomfortable shift from Aloisia, as the cakes arrive, and she chooses a piece of cake -- a nice carrotcake -- to start nibbling away at. "It... was... a bit complicated. Not completely airless, but much of the flora was not doing well, and the fauna was aggressive and adapted to a harsh environment, last I was there." She pauses. "...I believe, historically, that may have been where the last time the Crown was used, though. And I believe that was why it was like that. But the history is... squirrelly around then. I believe that a lot of it was scrubbed for political reasons." She scrunches her nose up slightly. "Ugh, politics." "Ah, sorry, I must have misunderstood. Truly, this was a room of royalty then." Aloisia actually stands to do a proper bow towards Laura afterwards. "I am passingly familiar with yourself, though I had not met Sharon as of yet." Pause. Questions of what Tungeturm is like gets a mixed look on her face. Regret, but also fondness. "It is a small ball of dirt, last I saw it. I grew up on little more than a mining outpost, if I'm honest. Where we mined the gemstones used in the creation of Devices. It was a rough little outpost, but full of... well... what I thought were good people at the time... I'm sure the miners were, but I'm unsure about anyone else, nowadays." She says, her smile just a bit strained. "But, well. That is a lifetime ago, when I was still a Stauss. Now I am a Harlaown, and things are much more pleasant."
Amy Faust	Oh. Bit of a sore spot Amy had, briefly, gotten caught up in 'wow how different to grow up in a space colony' and forgotten how miserable Aloisia was. She stands up to offer a hug. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking. Although I guess... everybody's kinda got... something sad in their backstories here, huh..."
Laura La Mer	Laura's revels in Aloisia's show of respect. "Of course, it's no problem. But good job on the right etiquette", she nods pleased to her. "I could show you around one of these days, or offer you a meal there." Sharon closes her eyes as Aloisia describes Tungeturm and her experience with the Crown. The mind of Chanteur's princess flashes back to a land frozen in perennial ice, before she gave in to the dark power of the meteor. "I am sad to hear things were so terrible on your homeworld. I am glad you are doing better now, and you have rebuilt with people who cherish you", she says opening her eyes with a serious expression.
Aloisia Harlaown	Aloisia actually accepts said offered hug, giving Amy a light squeeze. "It's fine. I'm ... well, maybe not over it, but I'm made of rather tough stuff. A lost logia actively trying to erase me couldn't, a few harsh memories certainly won't!" She says rather cheerfully, considering the contents of the sentence. Likely a coping mechanism. "I would love a tour one of these days, to see the ocean floor is something that is difficult to do under normal circumstances, what with the crushing weight and all." She says with a cheerful chuckle. Aloisia shifts slightly as she looks towards Sharon, noting that serious expression, and she gives a warm smile towards her. "Yes. Yes I have rebuilt with people who cherish me. I had to lose nearly everything to fully accept that they did... but it turned out I didn't have that much to begin with." A soft chuckle, and she gives a small nod towards Sharon. "And you seem to be building something pleasant yourself, with the Crown Princess here." She looks like she's considering saying more, but hesitates, instead simply moving back to her seat to take a few more bites of her carrot cake.
Amy Faust	Amy smiles. "'Rebuilt with people that cherish me'... that's a mood, yeah! This has.... Getting to know you all and have so many wonderful friends has... helped... me see that I'm not a worthless person. That I deserve a future too."
Laura La Mer	The mermaid tilts her head at the half-somber vibes. "Of course you deserve a future! Everyone has charm inside them, and you only need to draw it out. Believe in your own charm, got it?", she demands, her tone softened by the upward curve of her lips. "Yes, my life is much happier now", Sharon smiles back just as warmly at Aloisia, not really getting the full implications of her words. Laura doesn't, either, and she just gets up to hug Sharon from behind. "Don't worry, I will make the future she gets is bright too", she grins.
Aloisia Harlaown	"Of course you're not worthless, and of course you deserve a future. Nobody is worthless, and everyone deserves a future. Even if some folks' deserved future might be a fist to the face or being on the wrong end of a purification blast." Aloisia says, just ~barely~ holding back the urge to give a loud laugh at that, though there was a bit of a playful smirk on her face at that. But laughing at friends bearing their deepest feelings wasn't a good way to be a friend. Aloisia nods in agreement with Laura. "Right. Everyone has a charm inside of them." Pause. "Is a charm a thing with your magic, because I'm pretty sure I mostly have organs and a linker core inside of me." She adds with a bemused look towards Laura. ... Okay Sharon and Laura seem very good for each other. "Hm! It seems that I should be glad for you two to have each other then. It seems overall things are mostly looking up for all four of us. Beyond, of course, the psychic earth-plant horror apparently heading our way." Pause. "...But that feels like a problem that can be solved with purification, so hopefully it won't be as bad as some of the other things we've dealt with of late."
Laura La Mer	Laura giggles at Aloisia's question. "No, it's not a literal thing, no. But I'm pretty ''c''ure it could be." What with the literal lipstick rod that magically appears when a Tropical Pretty Cure awakens. She steps away from Sharon and goes back to her chair. "I am sure we will be fine. I am always up with giving him a whale of a time if I'm around." She gives Sharon a complicit gaze. She definitely looks enthusiastic at the prospect. "Right?" Sharon nods composedly. "Not many plants can withstand the rigour of winter. Let's see if he measures up to a snowdrop." It's a sight where Laura's boundless energy contrasts the more quiet resolve coming from Sharon. "It has been very nice hanging out, but we got to go now. Enjoy the cats, Aloisia-chan, Amy-chan." And with that, Laura, Sharon and Kururun all exit the cafè.