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]

[ Very big. She was raised poor, by her older sister because her parents weren't around very early in their lives. They parted ways almost five years ago now, and she'd been on her own since, arguably worse off than she was then. To have earned herself even this far... it's an achievement for her, a deeply surreal thing. and. ]

S-sure. [ Wait. She- okay whatever... ] Yeah, that sounds. Nice. Nice-like.

[actsmagnificent]

I'm glad. [ She won't press for any information. She's just happy you're happy.

And sipping this drink like she belongs here, too. Despite basically being a shiny human... ]

[makeitquick]

[ You mean she isn't shiny...

But now, there's a lull of silence. Melaka would fill it with more, but she doesn't know what to say. It's not necessarily an uncomfortable silence though, which is what stands out to her more than anything. Either way, if Haruka doesn't make conversation, then it'll pass, and their food will arrive, which Melaka greets with a "thank you" for the servor despite not making eye contact ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Oh, you're shining, Skitty. And Haruka's basking in the glow.

It doesn't take long for the food to arrive, and Haruka grins, breaking the comfortable silence. ] How's the Excadrill?

[ Sky will want to hear about her friend. ]

[makeitquick]

[ Good thank everything food. But- ] Sasha? Sasha's fine. Same as ever-

[ Wait, oh, she means for the bear! Melaka blinks, and then clarifies ] 'Ctually, we went and trained in that Dream World, her and I. Well, and others, but her.

[actsmagnificent]

Takes an adventurous soul to head back in there. [ Haruka hasn't tried. She looks interested, though. ] Did it go well?

[makeitquick]

Guide was telling me that there's some powerful pokémon lurking around there, so I wanted to meet them, but that was a bust. [ She rolls her shoulders ] But for Sasha? Yeah, totally worked well for us. We managed to enter a dream where we passed a lot longer over a few hours.

[actsmagnificent]

Sounds convenient for leveling. [ Haruka takes the first bite of her salad and her eyes widen. This is actually really good - enough so that her surprise shows on her face. Huh. ]

[makeitquick]

Working out kinks, more like. Almost feels like her abilities changed up from it.

[ But she smirks at that seeing that expression, before she digs into her own food. She knows this place is good - id she ever wanted to treat as high as she felt comfortable with doing, it would be this place, and she smiles, putting a free hand on her cheek as she chews after her own first bite. Aaah, just as good as she recalls ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka chews in silence at that, Melaka having given her food for thought in addition to the salad. Sasha's abilities changed? That can happen? Depending on the changes, that could either be useful or risky....

...but she doesn't want to fall too deeply into her own thoughts while out and about with someone else, so she swallows. ] You've got good taste. I'm excited to see where you'll take me next.

[ Miss Holds the Door for People. ]

[makeitquick]

Don't expect too much - this was as far as I planned, after all.

[ Still... she will try. And it gives her a little bit of a smile to hold onto the idea that she's impressing this person ]

[actsmagnificent]

I'm not worried. [ Just enjoying this salad. And wondering whether she shouldn't try the Dream World with somebody at some point. That's where she found the Munna, originally....

...but even unlocking secret powers probably wouldn't help Gold overcome himself, huh. ]

[makeitquick]

[ Mel's cheeks tinge a little at that, she can't lie. But it's also something she doesn't need to comment on or anything, so she just returns to her own meet, a little smile on her lips now. She hopes she actually can manage something at least a little neat once they're up and at them ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ It's all new to Haruka, so things should go just fine. She chooses to focus on eating, putting down her utensils with a smile once she's done and checking on Melaka. ] How was yours?

[makeitquick]

[ And by the time Haruka's finished, so too as Melaka. Mel actually takes a little longer - she might not have class per se, but she doesn't get a meal this good usually. So she was chewing overly long, savoring the taste of things. Still, she didn't want to delay the other woman, and once things seems to have calmed down some, she's nods, rummaging in her pocket for some money. She didn't plan much more than just what it would cost to eat here, but a tip... she should have a tip for a place like this. ]

Great. Always great here.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka watches Melaka fumble with the money, thinking. Is needing to look after her an inconvenience for Melaka? Yeah, it's the other woman's treat - they'd agreed upon that, and she'll honor it - but she's eaten a slice of humble pie today by realizing the implications of not everyone having unlimited income.

So she pulls out a few bills of her own. ] Can I make a donation?

[ If this is a matter of pride, she'll back down. But hey - the food was good. Haruka wants to support that. ]

[makeitquick]

[ A donation...

Melaka isn't above using charity. You need to have enough pride in yourself to have it overweigh your sense of survival to be like that, and she's not stupid. She'll accept that money and use it if it helps her get by. But right now, she is honoring a loss of a duel, and for the purpose of it, she;s not going to let Haruka foot any part of the bill for the lunch itself. But after frowning at the bill for a moment, she nods. ]

Only enough to tip the staff.

[ And she counts out the proper percentage for it (aiming high, as she always tries to) before making to try to hand back the change ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ And Haruka accepts the change without issue, slipping it back into her pocket. Right, that's the unpleasant financial side out of the way. ] I'll have to remember this place for later. Thanks for the introduction.

[ We cool if you cool. ]

[makeitquick]

[ She does frown a little as she closes the bill, thus completing the transaction. But after that, she stands with a smile, collecting her jacket back onto her shoulders. And she waves for Haruka to follow, because- ]

Don't thank me yet, Sparkles. I'm still doing the tour thing, right?

1/2

[actsmagnificent]

[ .... ]

2/2

[actsmagnificent]

[ ....no, she doesn't want to ask.

Haruka smiles and falls into line behind Melaka. ] I'm right behind you.

[makeitquick]

[ What, she's sparkly.

...

Melaka will notice that might'e been a little weird in a while.

Either way, let's rock. And she sort of knows this neighborhood in the way one knows where you aspire to be, so as they set off, right off the bat, she does point out some shops, some of which are owned by people she knows. Also which ones are prone to discounts... but realizes that's tacky after only a moment. So she instead opts to zone in on this place she doesn't recognize, which... ]

S'this import goods?

[ Form Caldera? She didn't remember a glass blowing shop here ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ It's news to Haruka that she actually sparkles, is all. She spends tremendously little time thinking about how others might perceive her, for good or ill.

Haruka listens as Melaka begins her tour, liking the way she can tell these are places her guide frequents and is fond of - it gives her a good sense of her companion - then pulls up behind her when they stop in front of the new store. ] The Point makes it easier...

[ It's probably easy for her to peer over Melaka's head into the storefront. Looks interesting. Maybe they should check it out. ]

[makeitquick]

Yeah. I've been seeing some people trying to convince me that meat's not a rich man's game since we met those Valkyries.

[ She's not buying it. Plus she's not seen it drop to a price she can manage, not yet. But yeah, glass blowing? she didn't even know one blows glass. So she glances to Haruka, the door, and then nods to herself. She'll get it for the other woman.

Shall we? ]

[actsmagnificent]

Changing times. [ Honestly? You aren't missing much by keeping it off the menu. Haruka heads for the door, though, since glassblowing is the current focus. Depending on how detailed the wares are in here, she might pick up a piece or two. She happens to know an artist who'd appreciate learning about a new "venue".

As a result, if there's anything in here that's equally or more decorative than practical, she'll gravitate thataways. Particularly if it has a sky or sea motif. They have their schticks. ]