| Afternoon Cafe | ||
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| Summary: Just a chat in the Bees' Knees!    |
Hey look! A certain half-elf comes in! She strolls over to the counter and the workers greet her cheerily. "Lunch today was awesome as always, thanks guys!" Ari says, smiling. "Could I get a cherry limeade?" One of the guys behind the counter makes her one, hands it to her, and doesn't ask for payment, nor does Ari offer it. Ari takes a sip and sighs contentedly. Fluttershy hmms? Looking up from her book....... It's not so long after the half-elf comes in that a human walks in! Well, that's far from an unusual occurance, actually. Still, Robin looks a little out of it as he steps in, hands in the front pockets of his unzipped hoodie. Once inside, however, he looks up and around the place. Two counters? Food or baked goods. Crap, he already has to make a descision here, and he's not sure what to pick! His grumbling stomach, however, soon makes his descision for him and he makes his way over to the Italian side before he notices Fluttershy. Yes, he's definitely become used to NeoTokyo if it takes him that long to notice the pastel pegasus. He offers her a wave. "Hey, Fluttershy, how are you today?" he asks as he nearly bumps into Ari, not paying attention. As he turns to look at her to apologize, he notices the ears and says, "Sorry," in elven. It's a bit of a backwoods, wood-elf accent, but definitely elven. Fluttershy meeps a bit and maybe -too- quickly hides her book away. "Oh, hello Robin....Miss Ari," she greets quietly, her book dissapereing quickly into a wing. "How are you today?" she asks, stroking her long mane out of her eyes. Ari responds with a "No problem" back in traditional Elven (not her own version from her world), then pauses afterwards, tilting her head at Robin, then switches back. "Well, that was a pleasant surprise. I'm Ari." she smiles, then waves at the pegasus. "Hey Fluttershy! Haven't seen you in a while!" Fluttershy says, "It has been a long while, It's very nice to see you, Oh...have you met Robin here? he's one of our very good friends....Robin, um, this is Ari; if you haven't met...." Robin shrugs lightly to Fluttershy. "Still a bit wandering and wondering, if you know what I mean." He looks back to Ari and offers a light smile. "I think I've seen her around once or twice, but I've not actually spoken to her before, not that I can recall." He then laughs once. "Yes, well, if I nearly run into someone, I figure I should be as polite as possible, right? Usually hearing a familiar but not often heard language makes people feel more at ease... At least I think so. Robin Caldworth, as Fluttershy said," he says before offering his hand. Ari takes his hand and smiles. "I've been the only elf around that I know of. So to hear any version of Elven is good." she chuckles. "Nice to meet you, Robin." She then chuckles at Fluttershy. "It's nice to see you, too! Fluttershy blushes just a little. "I've been to this place a few times, it seems you must be a regular," to Ari. Robin shakes the hand before letting go. A firm shake, though he doesn't let it linger. "My first time here, myself." He frowns on hearing that Ari is the only elf around. . o ( And I pegged her as being only half, too. ) "Yeah... not seen many elves... Or dwarves. Or halflings." Fluttershy says, "I do know ONE dwarf...." Ari grins to Fluttershy. "My girlfriend owns the place. They're under strict instructions to feed me on schedule because I have a tendency to forget to eat." She turns back to Robin. "Well technically I'm only a half-elf, but a lot of people don't recognize that because there are so many different kinds of elves in the multiverse that we're radically different from one dimension to the next. And yes, there is one dwarf." she chuckles. Fluttershy says, "Oh, I see," she giggles softly, "That must be very convienient," she smiles. "I don't think there are any elves in Equestria; if there are, they must be in the Everfree forest...." Robin blinks in surprise as Ari mentions she's half-elf. Not that she's half, no, but that he actually guessed the half heritage correctly. "Huh. I thought so, but... honestly, for the reasons you said, I figured I was probably wrong." He then looks between the two. "One dwarf. So one dwarf, one half elf, and I'll just assume there's a single half-orc, a single halfling, and a single full blooded elf around here somewhere?" He sighs and shakes his head. "And now I'm getting homesick again." He lets out a breath before looking back to Ari. "Must be convienent," he says a split second after Fluttershy, which causes him to glance at her with a laugh. "But bad reasons for it, I guess." Ari grins, walking over to Fluttershy's table to sit. "I'm a workaholic, and just... forget. And I haven't seen any other elves around personally. Or any halflings. Or orks. Jeez, I haven't seen an ork in forever." Fluttershy says, "That's just like Twilight, she forgets to eat sometimes....when she's really busy studying, it's good she has Spike to Remind her," she smiles, "Oh..I think there is an Orc...I saw him once in the Usual...he's actually quite friendly." Robin looks between the two. He seems especially saddened when Ari says she's not seen any halflings, and takes a deep breath. "Just remember... electricity is a great thing," he says under his breath. He steps over to the counter to actually order some food. When he's done with that, he steps back to Fluttershy's table and asks, "Mind if I sit?" Fluttershy says, "Please do," she nods." Ari crosses her legs as she sips her limeade. "Maybe I saw him, then again my orks are a bit different. I don't remember." she smiles. "However there is a faerie, a few gods and demi-deities, mythical creatures that aren't so mythical... Fluttershy says, "And Miss Belldandy and her sisters." Robin takes a seat and nods a bit absently. "And some vampires. But it's the... less major things that I miss from home. Just the normal people. The food, the adventures... Ehhh..." He glances between the two. "Don't mind me." Ari shakes her head. "Don't worry about it, everyone goes through it. Well, except if you're from my world. That place can burn." she says simply, sipping her soda again and not seeming to feel a single twinge of remorse for her words. Fluttershy says, "We all get homesick..." she nods, "It can be a little rough sometimes." Robin chuckles lowly and shakes his head. "Yeah, well... I think this place is actually pretty nice. Trains, electricity, way more varied food than you'd get in one city back home. I'd prefer better living space, but at least I've stopped camping." He then frowns. "Work is the most annoying part. Not enough... adventure work without heading into those Badlands areas. They just don't feel like the place a sane person would go on their own. I was there once. Once. Got attacked by a giant rabbit with fists on its ears." He then looks up from the table to give Fluttershy a weak smile before looking to Ari. "What's so terrible about your world? Uh, if I may ask?" Fluttershy says, "No, I just meant, um...it's rough being homesick...Equestria is really very nice....." Ari wrinkles her nose a bit. It's still adorable, but there's an edge of bitterness. "It's a terrible place filled with horrible, corrupt people that I would love to never see again." she says. "That's all I want to say about it right now. Robin lowers an eyebrow and grimaces slightly as Ari describes her homeworld. "Well, glad you're here and not there anymore, then," he says, letting the subject drop beyond that. He pauses a moment before outright snapping his fingers. "That's where I saw you! There was that event at that nightclub on the beach!" Fluttershy says, "The beach is always kind of..um...busy....'" Ari raises a brow. "The event... which.. Oh!" she blinks, then blushes. "Yeah, getting flung into the ocean was not my finest moment. Wish I could say it was the first time." She looks at Fluttershy. "With the giant ball with magnet ear things or whatever they were. Fluttershy says, "Oh yes, that poor creature....." Robin tilts his head, then shakes it. "Uhhh, no, I mean it was like a party or something in the place. Giant ball with magnet ears?" Why nooooo, Robin totally wasn't there for the giant metal ball witha creepy eye in the center of it and screws stricking out of it. >.> Ari laughs. "Oh, that's my club. There's a party in there literally every night. Except traditional holidays. Fluttershy says, "Oh...Nightmare Night would be coming soon back home. It's not realy my favorite holiday....I usually hide under my bed all night." Robin pauses a moment. "A couple of months ago? I dunno, I wasn't originally planning on going there, Hisako was and ran into me on the way." He looks to fluttershy and almost asks what Nightmare Night is, but descides against it. Fluttershy says, "I like Hearth's warming eve though....that is so much fun....." Ari grins and nods. "It's like a.." she thinks a moment. "Like a tavern but with more dancing." She looks to Fluttershy and does actually ask the question. "What's Nightmare Night?" Robin nods to Ari, smirking slightly. "I got that. Not really my scene, but I've wandered in on more than one of them." He then winces slightly as Ari asks the question he didn't. Ari hmms.. "Well, if you mean actual party, then, the last two we had in there were a wedding and my birthday, and I know you weren't at the wedding. Fluttershy says, "Nightmare Night is a scary holiday...where all the ponies dress up in costumes and eat candy and try and scare each other! And..Princess Luna is out and scaring ponies too! Most Ponies find it so much fun, but, um...It's not really my cup of oats." Robin says dryly. "I don't think we crashed a wedding, no. And yeah, birthday party is sounding familiar from what Hisako said, I think." He tilts his head at Fluttershy's description and nods. "Yyyyeah, that doesn't sound like your kind of thing. What's Hearth's Warming? It sounds like a winter solstice festival..." Ari grins. "Oh, Nightmare Night is like Halloween! We throw a wicked party here for that, too. Fluttershy says, "Hearth's warming celebrates that Earth Ponies, Pegasi and Unicorns all decided to live in peace, we have hot cocoa, and sing carols and give each other presents..." Ari chuckles. "And that translates to Christmas here. We pretty much do the same thing. Oh, and we eat a lot. Robin glances back at Ari, now wondering what he'd do for a costume. "....When is that one, then?" He looks back to Fluttershy and nods. "It does sound like a nice, peaceful holiday." Ari smiles at Robin. "October thirty-first. I'll put out lots of reminders. Fluttershy says, "When we were all bickering, long, long ago...the Wendigo appeared...and when we all resolved that we all need each other, they went away." Robin tilts his head slightly. "I find it hard to beleive, you guys' races not getting along. At least not with those of you I've met so far, that is. You just seem like the most... well, best of friends, really." He looks up as his food arrives, and he thanks the waitor. "Honestly... I'm kinda jealous." Fluttershy says, "Ponies can have problems," she smiles, "And this was long, long ago..."" Ari blinks. "Wendigo? And you lived??" She has to take a few deep breaths. "Right, different world, different wendigo.. Fluttershy says, "Wendigo are Ice spirits...they've even showed up here; which we worry about a little." Robin raises an eyebrow to Ari. "They're that tough in your world?" He looks back to Fluttershy, looking... slightly worried. "If your wendigos are here, then that means... there's too much racial strife here? Is that what's going on?" He frowns, trying to wrap his mind around it. Fluttershy says, "It's possible...there is an awful lot of chaos here....." Ari nods. "Well, not as much as there could be. Robin says, "Things don't seem any worse than they were back home..." He shrugs, then glances out the window. "Actually, I almost feel there's less chaos here than at home. I kinda don't know what to do with myself." Fluttershy says, "We're not really sure why they've come here..." Ari shudders a little at the thought still. "Well, I appreciate the heads up. I can't stand the buggers." Robin looks between the two, then asks, "What are they like? Both of them. I mean... maybe I can help take them out?" he asks before taking a bite of his meatball sub. Fluttershy says, "They...they're like Ghost Ponies and they fly and freeze everything they touch....." Ari frowns. "A diseased ork that's been infected, grows white fur, and acts almost like a vampire, and has magic abilities that can let them blend in with everyone else." she says coldly. Robin looks between the two, then says, "Yeah.... very different, then. Looks like another 'in name only' thing, then. I've seen that somewhere before..." He frowns, looking down at his sandwich. "....But I can't place what it was anymore." Fluttershy shudders, she realy doesn't like the whole Wendigo thing! Brrr! Ari shrugs a little. "It's just the way that the mulitiverse works. I'm sure there are some out there where a wendigo is nothing but a fluffy bunny. Robin shrugs. "I bet there's something called that in my world... buuuut, I don't know about it if there is. We really more dealt with undead and vampires and such." He pauses, then tilts his head. "...So I guess I should have run into them? Well, we weren't in cold areas." Ari nods a little. "Some dimensions don't have them in the cold." she sighs. "But they're trouble more often than not. Fluttershy says, "I think they usually are, yes," she nods. "These...our Wendigo can't even be hurt by regular thinks...it has to be magical....." Robin kicks back in his chair slightly. "Do enchanted weapons count?" he asks as he ponders. Yes, Robin still always wants to be the hero! So of course he's thinking about how he could fight off the Wendigos that have shown up, even if they've not done that much. Fluttershy says, "I suppose that would work....though the best way to beat them is to be happy...." Ari wrinkles her nose a little. "Maybe, but happy is... complicated." she hehs. "Weapons are far easier. Fluttershy smiles just a little, "Being happy isn't that difficult, really....if Pinkie Pie were here, she's make a song about it," she giggles. Robin laughs without much joy in it. "Yeah... that... that is true, unfortunately. Not as effective, I'm guessing, but...." He frowns a bit as Fluttershy says being happy isn't difficult. Ari blinks. "Make... a song... well, I can sing, but... yeah I don't see that working. Fluttershy giggles. "Well, there's nothing to worry about right now anyway, and, we haven't seen the Wendigo's for a while, so maybe they're all gone. Ari exhales a bit. "Here's hoping. Because if they still were I'd be putting a bunch of vodka in this." she swirls her drink a little. Fluttershy says, "That wouldn't help much," she smiles. Robin taps a finger on the table. "I guess I'm just too used to dealing with monsters with a blade. The idea that you just need to be happy and at peace to defeat a monster... just feels wierd to me." Fluttershy says, "I guess you could look at it as being...like being sick...laughter is a wonderful healer...." Ari smiles at Robin. "Blades are my preferred instrument as well. So I hear you." Turning to Fluttershy, she hms. "Well, I guess being around kids has softened me up. I'd prefer peaceful, but I will do what I have to to keep my family safe." Fluttershy says, "Peaceful is nice, yes....." Robin munches on his sandwich as he considers all this. "Laughter as a healer. I wonder what Pidgeon would say about that.... I've put all my eggs in the adventurer basket back home, so I'm kind of at a loss for making a life here." He pauses, then frowns a bit more deeply. "I haven't even considered raising a family." Fluttershy tiltrs her head a little, "You shouldn't even begin to think about that...untill you're sure you're not coming or going..... Robin looks to Fluttershy, a confused look on his face. "...'Coming or going'? I think the more important part is that I'm still on my own." Fluttershy says, "No...I mean...if you raise a Family, you have to be sure that this is where you want to be....." Ari smiles a little. "I just found out I can actually have kids..." she says quietly, but quite happily. She blinks and then realizes she said that out loud. "Er... sorry, a little personal." she blushes profusely. Robin glances out the window. "I'm pretty sure if I was gonna raise a family, I'd want to do it here. I mean... they'd never know my parents... but their life would be better here." He then blinks and looks at Ari. "Hey, don't worry about it. It looks like it was something you were worrying about, so if you have a worry you don't have to worry about, then... congratulations?" Fluttershy says, "I just mean...if I was going to Raise a family, this isn't my home....and one day I'll go back to Equestria...it wouldn't be fair to my family. Of course..um...there's not much chance of that here anyway..." Ari smiles, still blushing a bit. "Home is where ever my boyfriend and girlfriend are. I would love to raise a family with them one day, no matter where we live." Fluttershy says, "Of course I'm really not reday for such a thing anyway...I've never even been on a date...." Robin blinks at the mention of both boyfriend and girlfriend, then glances off to the side slightly. "You and me both, Fluttershy." Ari chuckles. "Well, that's fine too. One day you may, or you may not. As long as you're happy, that's what matters. Fluttershy says, "And..well..there's no Stallions here anyway...." she blushes brightly." Robin nods in agreement to Ari, though he doesn't look particularly happy himself. Except when he eats. Apparently he really likes the meatball sub. Robin says, "That would be the big problem from your end, wouldn't it, Fluttershy?" Fluttershy says, "Um..well..even if there were...um...somebody here DID ask me out...but...um..I sort of freaked and ran..." Ari blinks. "Wasn't there one here at some point? Something Heart?" she tilts her head, trying to recall. Fluttershy says, "Oh, yes...but...he doesn't seem to be around anymore..also, well, it can't just be ANY Pony after all." Robin nods with a frown. "Yeah. I guess my problems in that area are nothing compared to yours, then." Fluttershy says, "I'm not really looking for anypony anyway...like I said, I'm really not ready for something like that..." Ari chuckles. "Lack of options doesn't mean you have to take it." she smiles. "Besides, if it's meant to be, it'll happen one day. You've got plenty of time." Fluttershy says, "I'm only 17 after all...." Ari starts to say something, but considers her company, and thinks better of it. "See? Plenty of time. Fluttershy says, "I'm still just a fillie." Robin says dryly, "If I were still living in the village I came from... I would have been expected to have had my first child at that age. Not here, though. Again... Better place here than home. I look around a few years younger than me, they're all in school... heck, some people said I should have gone to 'high school.'" Fluttershy says, "Well, You're very nice, Robin and very brave; you should have no trouble meeting someone nice." Ari nods a bit. "What she said." she smiles. Robin blushes a bit and looks away at the compliments. "Well, I guess I shouldn't bother you guys with my own petty worries." He waves a hand dismissively. "I'm always bummering myself out with things like that and not having my old adventuring lifestyle," he says, getting the more modern phrasing slightly wrong. He considers how to steer the conversation away... but comes up with a blank, and thus just eats more of his meatball sub. Ari smirks. "It's alright. We all miss some parts of our old life. But you'll make a nice shiny life here." she blinks. "Did I just say shiny? Fluttershy says, "I guess we all just have to do our best." Robin tilts his head as he finishes the sandwich. "Yeah. I figured it was just some slang term I'm not familiar with. I've been here a few months, but there's always something new to me... I'm guessing that one's past its prime or something?" He starts taking out some money to leave as a tip for the waitstaff. He's a waitor himself, he knows better than to stiff that here! Ari chuckles. "One of my best friends has a wife that is from a universe that says that a lot. I tend to pick up on stuff like that." Fluttershy says, "Nothing wrong with shiney." Robin nods. "It works. Shiney, like gold. If something is shiney, it's usually nice, right? It's understandable right from the beginning." He smirks slightly as he leaves the money on the table. "Well... I've got the breakfast shift tomarrow, so I probably should head on out now." Fluttershy says, "Have a good night~" Ari nods and smiles at Robin. "It was nice chatting with you." Robin stands up and waves before turning for the door. "See you guys later, then!" Fluttershy says, "Bye now..." | |
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