This is totally not a lazy log

[makeitquick]

Who: Melaka and Haruka
What: That lunch Haruka won
When: ??? probably during or after Soulfasting
Where: A somewhat upscale diner and The Lucky Punch

[ So Melaka had issued an open challenge to people a while back with the offer to buy a meal for anyone who won against her. And theoretically for them to buy one for her if she won. Either way, it's been delayed a fair bit over all, but... Well, either way, time for the lunch with Haruka.

So Melaka contacted her, told her to place, and they would meet up there for a lunch. Simple. Easy. Not a date. Not going to be complicated by something or another. Hopefully it won't be awkward for her. Could even be fun. ]

Comments

[makeitquick]

No- No. Just... [ Jeez this person can throw her off so much. She makes a face which might be a pout and might be the face of someone who bit into a raw aspear berry. Either way, ] Just that's a thing people are doing.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Okay, she's being too difficult re: smalltalk where the other person is running the conversation. Got it. ] Ninetales Vale held a nice festival. I hope you and your Pokémon got to enjoy it.

[makeitquick]

[ Thank everything. ]

Sure did! Most of 'em loved it too - the whole thing's pretty flashy for a remembering the dead sort of thing, but maybe the dead are into that.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Interesting outlook - though she's glad the Pokémon enjoyed themselves. Haruka muses over Melaka's words. She's never really been one for looking back, period, but the ghosts she's met have definitely enjoyed being the centers of attention. Maybe that makes them feel more alive, like they've really had an impact. ] What about you? Is this more your style?

[ She nods at the restaurant. ]

[makeitquick]

Not really. [ she'll be honest, and she reaches to run a hand through her hair to push it back, only to realize it's up now and there's just a stray strand there which she felt. Oh well. ] I mean, place's great and all, but you'd usually see me sooner at Teeters or places closer to the boilers. [ IE: the poorest areas of the city ] Just how I've been, so I guess I'm used to that scene - not sure you can call it the best though, and I know that. Why I become a Ranger.

[ Well, mostly ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ That's a completely different milieu than Haruka's, so now she's definitely intrigued. She shrugs. ] Nobody can see the world through anybody else's eyes. You've got your Union and others have theirs.

[ So no worries. She won't judge. ] That's what makes life interesting.

[makeitquick]

Yeah, and in the last year we learned the world's a whole lot bigger even than that. [ It's still amazing to her. Team Evolution, Gigas, Caldera, the Citadel. There were all these places not even all that far from them and they never new. Admittedly, they have built on the foundation that many Ranger fought and died to scout out around the Verdant Forest. But still... ]

[actsmagnificent]

A lot more to range, huh? [ She chuckles. Out to lunch with a Ranger. Since they have to avoid encountering Rangers when they're out on Defense Force business - secret organization and all - that's pleasingly ironic. ]

[makeitquick]

You know it. I signed up at the right time, if you ask me. First mission I was on to get the big certification was back during that Iron shortage last year.

[ You know at the beginning of the gam right before all the stuff in the last year started ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ ...Haruka thinks she might have missed that. She spent quite a bit of last year abroad on Divine Defense Force business, only to come home with a daughter. Such is life.

But she can sympathize with the sentiments, so she nods. ] Sounds like you like it.

[makeitquick]

Definitely changed everything. [ But this is enough about her. She inhales, tilts her head and: ] What about you, what got you acting, what with the racing and all.

[actsmagnificent]

[ There's the question, isn't it. Haruka runs a finger along the edge of the menu, contemplating the best possible answer. If it wasn't her, she'd be curious, too. ] Is it strange?

[makeitquick]

A little. [ She's a straight shooter. ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka can respect that. So she'll answer the question as best she can. Her smile's a bit introspective as she attempts. ] Let's see. I discovered something only I could do.

[ A quick pause to gather more thoughts. ] If I passed up that chance, I'd be denying the opportunity to be fully myself. So I accepted it.

[ She grins. Too obtuse? ] Or something.

[makeitquick]

[ Oh. Well that's... super vague, actually. But either way, she arches an eyebrow ]

So acting's your secret calling, huh?

[actsmagnificent]

You could say that. [ The plays themselves are ridiculous. But there's a hint of self-satisfaction in the way she's carrying herself all the same.

Well, uh. More so than usual.

Their drinks look like they're on the way here, though, so Haruka looks over with a grin for the server. Looks good! ]

[makeitquick]

[ Oh, fair enough there. She huffs a little here, and gives her own thanks for the drinks arriving too. She gives a smile for Haruka before taking her first sip ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka sips too, wondering if she should bring up the dream. It was a strange day - a strange two weeks, in fact, and enough to make her wonder whether Melaka encountered a god too (how widespread were those interrogations?). Worth a shot.

She swirls her drink around before setting down her cup. ] You did ride well, earlier.

[makeitquick]

Thanks. [ So she did remember that dream. Melaka brushes back some of her bangs, a bit unnecessarily again, and then admits: ] Never done it on a Rhyhorn before. But being in the dream of someone good at it probably helped me.

[ So that was her dream, right? Had to be ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka grins, not bothering to downplay her own talents. They're a fact; why should she? More importantly, if Melaka's a Ranger, then... ] What's your usual mount?

[ It's possible to Range on foot, she supposes. But a Pokémon would make that easier, right? ]

[makeitquick]

Been on foot most of my time, but I've been working with the Doku-Duku duo lately... [ Okay, she should. Okay this is mildly embarrassing but- ] ... Ever heard of a Dunsparce?

[ As far as she knows, they're pretty rare. ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Hm. A new species to her. That's worth hearing about. Haruka leans forward a bit, intrigued. Anything mountable is cool by her. ] Enlighten me.

[makeitquick]

Hah. Alright, let's see if I can't describe them. ... Kinda close in size to Rhyhorns, maybe a little smaller than the average one 'cus they're lower to the ground. Move kinda like an Ekans or those other snake-things, no feet like - but they have a drill at the end of the tail. Also got little wings on 'em, but they aren't big enough to fly. [ She shrugs ] I fig they must get bigger ones when they evolve or something.

[ Oh, how little she knows... ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ baby ;a; Haruka's not great at visualizing, but she does her best given the detailed description. Large flightless winged snake with a drill tail. That's....distinctive.

She nods along. ] Sounds sturdy. Does it make good time?

[makeitquick]

Probably not the best ever, but faster they I expected. Dukuduku [ Man it feels weird to say that name ] is a particular-like guy in terms of being determined. Even if he's not the fastest, I've had the guy go over more terrain types than I figured a snake-thing would.