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WHO: Maya and Ulvida
WHERE: the Lucky Cat Cafe
WHEN: OCTOBER whenever
WHAT: two very different girls meet
WARNINGS: none!

[Ulvida now has "visiting this café" as a part of her weekly routine. Sometimes it's more than once a week, but it's at least once, traveling all the way from De Chima to come to this cute little shop in Heropa, just to see the red-haired girl that ran the store and to grab a pastry or two for Gran to have when he got home. It was a good routine; she was never the type of person to hate it.

Anyway, the bell at the top of the café door jingles as Ulvida pulls it open, letting in the still-warm breeze of Florida in autumn and taking a soft huff of breath as the sweet, warm air of the café hits her in the face. It was unlike anything she really knew; the Sun Garden was warm, but the food was never so sweet-smelling, and Aliea Academy was cold and sterile. The government housing in De Chima was getting close, but still not this much. The smell of butter and fruits and coffee made her think about the cafés and bakeries she dreamed about as a little girl, and as usual, it makes her feel a little giddy to be here.

But today, it seems like the redhaired Wendy isn't in. At least, she's not on the floor. A little disappointed but not showing it on her face, she picks up a tray and a pair of tongs to start browsing the bakery's shelves, and she's just about to grab herself an apple pastry when she sees it: a flash of dark, pinkish hair.

And she can't deny it in moments like this. She's homesick. Not for Aliea or anywhere in particular, but for the people there. Even with Gran here, and what a comfort that is, she's still so used to being surrounded by other children no matter how tense life had been the past five years. After all, no matter what, she had always been there. So the pink hair catches her eyes, and even though this woman's hair is longer and straighter than that of her best friend, and her eyes are nothing like hers, and they dress nothing alike, and there's no way that that girl could be here, Ulvida can't help but stare in the woman's direction and utter the name that rose to the front of her mind.]

Fumiko?

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She was! Her name was Cass.

[Warmer than most of the women Maya knew back home. Much more like a mother.

She gestures to herself, then--]

And I'm Maya Fey. It's nice to meet you! I'm only here every few days cos of filming but-- if you need any help you can let me know, okay?

Cass. I'll remember.

Thank you, Maya. My name is Ulvida--

[At least she gets her name out before it hits her.]

Filming?

Oh-- um, for a show! The Pink Princess kid's TV series-- um, have you heard of it yet?

Um... no.

I've never watched television.

We didn't have those on Aliea.

[when you're a teenager that's easier and a little less embarrassing to admit to than "we're too poor we're orphans". She knows what 'normal' kids had; she's read in Keeve's magazines.]

Really?!

[Maya looks surprised-- and then disappointed. Less that Ulvida hasn't seen the show and more that she couldn't watch fun shows like the Steel Samurai...]

Well, that's no fun-- buuut if you ever get the chance to try here, I know you can still watch the show on your communicator...

[And, in a flash, Maya looks a bit meek, bowing her head and smiling.]

Y'know, if you're into superheroes and that kind of junk. It's not that important, though.

Edited 2016-10-30 07:56 (UTC)

I don't know.

[Ulvida is not that great at conversation. She knows that she doesn't change expressions enough, doesn't talk softly enough, and that her word choices were rougher than the other girls. But because she's aware, she hears her own words now and makes that extra effort to answer properly.]

I mean, I'm familiar with things on Earth. I know about superhero stories, I just haven't seen them in a long time.

But if you're working on it... that effort means that it isn't junk. Can I really view it on the communicator?

[Maya perks up a bit despite Ulvida's lack of expression; the prospect that she's really interested in checking it out has Maya excited and humbled all at once. Her cheeks tinge a little pink, but her smile sticks around.]

Yeah-- Um, if you connect to the internet on it, you can stream the episodes to the communicator whenever you want!

I can send you a link, if you want?

[She asks, already reaching into her shirt for her communicator and FINALLY setting that tray down on the nearest empty table long enough to open said communicator.]

Of course.

[Well, her plans are changed now. Ulvida doesn't have anything on her tray so she tucks it under her arm and pulls out her own communicator, fumbling only a little -- this is her first time owning a phone, too -- and looks for the internet option. It doesn't take very long, at least.]

It's ready.

Perfect.

[Maya sends it to Ulvida's communicator so she can access the link directly, watching as it loads up.]

See? This part links to the schedule, and this one's for the blog... but over here, you can click and stream episodes.

[Ulvida is not terrible at navigating technology! She follows Maya's instructions quickly and precisely and ends up where she needs to be.]

How many are out?

A whole season's finished, and the second half of the second season'll be airing soon.

Actually-- if you like the show, there's gonna be a release party in November! You're--...

[Maya looks Ulvida up and down--]

Probably young enough to get in for free?

...

In human years, I'm just under fifteen.

[They never decided how fast Aliea orbits its sun]

Yup!

[Basically, only Adults have to pay.]

Perfect! If you decide you like it, I'll send you the information for the party!

... Um.

I'm sure I will like it. Could you tell me about it anyway? I may have to ask for time off, if I decide to go. And bring somebody else along, if that is all right.

[wherever she goes, usually, Gran goes]

Oh-- yeah! You can bring anyone you want!

[Cheerily. She shoves her communicator back in her shirt.]

Pink Princess is really fun, though. It's about my character-- um, the Pink Princess-- taking on twisted spirits and sealing them or bringing them to peace! It's getting a pretty cool new arc this season, but I'll let you see that when it comes out.

[She's really excited to be a part of this show, okay]

[She nods.] He's not bad. He would probably be a lot better at events like that than I am...

Does the princess have to fight things from, um, outside of her world?

[like... space?]

No... but she does get help from the stars.

[The guest 'stars'.... Like Ken and Koromaru.]

I guess it doesn't count cos they were reborn on earth, but the spirits are mostly just upset because of the negative energy they had to deal with before they died.

[She didn't miss that, though, Ulvida... So that someone else is more social than her. Or does Ulvida just think so?]

[The moment she realizes she recognizes them from Gran's school would be a weird one.]

Before they died... I see. That was what you meant by bringing them to peace. She sounds like a good princess.

[Maya's smile softens, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and she pushes a few stray hairs out of her face.]

Yeah. I mean, I think the show's really fun! You probably will, too. And like I said, the party's gonna be mostly for kids, so you can bring as many people as you want with you.

It's very kind of you.

[She looks down at the screen on her phone, at the prospect of something new she could... enjoy? And some of the wariness she had in her eyes melts away. She didn't view Maya as a threat, but that look she had of a child facing a stranger fades just a little, and her shoulders relax.]

I don't know a lot of people, but... Gran. Will probably have friends he will want to invite.

That's okay! Just make sure you come say hi to me at the party.

[She and Komasan will be in charge of distributing party favors, after all.]

Gran... [The name's slightly familiar, but only from hearing it once or twice on Ken's mouth. But since she can't remember where she's heard it, she brushes it off.]

Oh-- but, you were in the middle of something, weren't you? Sorry, I got us distracted.

[yeah a+ job at doing your work, maya]

Oh, please don't worry.

[Maya has proven herself friendly, approachable, and more than anything -- safe. Ulvida's attitude changes quickly from here, her voice lightening up just a little as she starts to look at Maya with wider eyes that reflect a little bit of hopefulness.

Children from the Sun Garden are all starving for positive attention and suck them up like sponges to water.]

I was just picking something up for -- for snacks, for when the person I'm living with gets home.

Ah! Who do you live with?

[Maya asks, lifting her tray of dishes.]

Have you tried everything we have yet? Wendy's working on new stuff for the menu!

[Because of course she has to make sure you have experienced these good eats]

I haven't tried a lot, yet. I only got here this month, and I'm not used to having money to spend...

I live with Gran. My-- [And here she goes again, attempting to say friend or brother or even just a vague 'family,' bit as always she hesitates immediately before the word and changes her mind] From Aliea. I was actually in a different building, but it was strange to be apart. There are a couple others, too.

Wellll, if you want to pick up anything else tonight... Just tell Wendy I have it covered, okay?

[Maya has more money than she can deal with too these days and with no reason to save, well.]

You and your friends should get to try everything.

[Sorry Maya, but what? Ulvida is still wide-red, but there's a new furrow to her eyebrows that gives away her confusion and incredulity.]

Why would you do that?

[Maya's thr the one to grow confused this time, eyes open and blinking.]

Um.

Don't you wanna-- before you have to go home? To your world, I mean.

[Why wouldn't she help when she has the means to do so?]

The Earth I know has places like this too...

[Bakeries. Cafes. The donut shops Fumiko always got samples from when they were younger.]

You don't have to go out of your way for us...

I didn't mean it like that....

[She fidgets a moment, putting her free hand to her lips as she thinks of the best way to express it.]

But this place is special. Cass used to take care of any imPort who came in here.

If she can't be here to do it... The people who work here should.

[If there's anything the children from Aliea have always been, or grown, sensitive to, it's sadness. Sadness, anger, and pain -- and they react to it immediately with guilt. The change in Maya's expression hits Ulvida like a blow to the gut, and there's no way to stop the way her breath hitches, the way her shoulders jump the slightest bit, and immediately she thinks of her father as he spoke about his son, her sister as she turned her back to them and walked out, and the faces of the younger children as they asked her why they had to do what they did.

And despite her appearance and cheeriness, Maya hadn't fooled Ulvida for a second after the confusion with Keeve was gone -- Maya is an adult. And Ulvida has to use all of her self control not to burst out with an apology because an upset adult was some of the saddest, worst things that she knew.

~~I'm sorry, please don't be sad, I didn't mean to hurt you.~~

She squeezes her communicator tightly in her hands to calm herself down, and forces a breath. Think, Reina, think. Think of a response.]

... If it's. If it's something that special, then shouldn't its patrons make sure it's supported?

[Ulvida's reaction isn't lost on Maya either, though, and now Maya's the one distressed; she has no idea how she's gotten Ulvida so uncomfortable, but..]

I promise, it's not a big problem or anything!

[She says, holding out her hand.]

The Café's fine! But it's here for imPorts to help each other, you know?

[And you're a kid, Maya wants to say.

And when I was your age, I still had my sister, and I didn't have to be alone. And you shouldn't be, either, here in a city like this.

But none of those sentiments leave Maya's mouth.]

[How does she respond to this.

She hasn't experienced anybody this earnest since... god, when? She can't remember. She watched Hiroto and Endou Mamoru from the sidelines so she knows about these sorts of people. She also witnessed another type in their fiery striker who lectured his teammates by kicking soccer balls at them. Maya Fey was, she hopes to anything that'll listen, more like Endou Mamoru.

She doesn't know what to do with the hand that's extended toward her? She looks at it, then at Maya's hand, and unsurely, extends her own..? She's seen kids high-five after making a goal. But this isn't such a situation. What does she do?]

A-all right.

[That's the best thing to say, right? It's not like she hated this positive attention. The fact is, she wouldn't be opening up so quickly to Maya if it didn't make her so happy. And she knows it. So she has to put in effort in return.]

Thank you.

[Maya's brows raise, and-- well, seeing that Ulvida's confused, Maya simply reaches and grasps her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before she lets go.]

Thank you!

Make sure you let us know how you like everything, okay?

[It's a bit of an invitation; let's try this again sometime. Hopefully less awkward.]

[Ulvida does not have an audible reaction to that, but Maya may as well be a truck roaring toward her at full speed ready to wreak havoc on her life just as it had to many soccer players. She's frozen in exactly the shape Maya leaves her once her hands are released.]

I-- okay.

But I can start with just a few, right?

Of course. Just means you'll have to keep coming back.

[Maya gives Ulvida a little wink and shifts her tray of dishes from one hand to the other.]

I gotta go take this back now. Have fun, okay?

[She feels -- and looks -- a little sheepish about having gotten in the way of Maya's work. But she nods quickly in response to her enthusiasm and answers,]

Okay. Ah, thank you.

Will I see you again?

Of course!

[Chimes Maya, grinning ear to ear.]

You can send me a message sometime, too!

I will.

I'll watch your episodes, and I'll let you know.

[You'll get a text like tonight Maya]

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