text, un: bellabelle

[doreimi]

Hey, so. Between those Amphoria Pods showing off our memories of home and Valentine's Day coming up next month, I have to admit I've been thinking about something a lot lately, so why not let's make a game of it?

What's the funniest, wildest, or most embarrassing thing you've ever done in order to impress somebody you liked?

It has to be something you actually did! I mean, I know there's no good way of keeping somebody from just making something up, but that'd ruin the spirit of the game, you know? Oh, and don't say something really mortifying or awful or indecent, okay? It's not supposed to be THAT kind of game. Here's a good rule of thumb: if it's not the kind of thing you can laugh about now, it's probably not the kind of thing this game is getting at!

Mm, I feel like I should offer up some kind of prize for playing, too, so...how about a free extra drink with your next purchase of table time at Beans! Cat Cafe? You already get one drink for free with your table ordinarily, so with an extra, you can bring a plus-one along with you! A cute date gift in exchange for a meet-cute sort of story, courtesy of Beans! Yeah, I like that a lot.

Comments

[torsion]

The inescapable 14th!

Might be nice to catch a breather. Afraid I don't have any tales of trying to impress anyone. There are things I'll do for people I wouldn't otherwise, but it's not with that kind of end.

How's business, by the way?

[doreimi]

We'll just have to find somebody named White and they can be your suffering buddy from February 14th until March 15th!

It's pretty steady business! I'm getting the hang of this whole management thing, I think. I'm more efficient now, and I've got plenty of good help.

[torsion]

White Day, right? I was stuck in Japan years ago and brought my partner back a ton of chocolates.

I imagine it helps when there's not a blizzard interspersed. I'll definitely be swinging by, but I'll pay for the second cup. ;)

[doreimi]

Yup, you've got it! If you ask me, the fun of White Day makes everything that goes into Valentine's Day a hundred times worth it.

Hey, we'll be happy to have you! Are you planning to bring someone with you, too, or are both cups for yourself? ;)

[torsion]

You had every opportunity to call it "Jill Day" and you didn't, so I'm with you on it.

If you're trying to grill me on dates, it's not happening. But I know someone that I think could really benefit from the atmosphere.

[doreimi]

Who, me? Be nosy about people's personal business? Perish the thought!

...But really, who is it, though?

[torsion]

I know what it sounds like, is all.

Leon. Guy's my roommate now I guess? I mean we've moved in together. Just a very new thing for me.

[doreimi]

...Is it the same Leon who's telling me about how he stole a car to impress a girl he liked in middle school?

[torsion]

I know how to pick em, right?
Ha ha, one and the same. :)

[doreimi]

I dunno, I think he's kinda charming! It takes some confidence to tell a complete stranger a story like that.

How did you guys meet?

[torsion]

He's kinda charming, I'd agree.

Both Raccoon City survivors. He would've been a rookie beneath me at the RPD, actually. Currently he works DSO and I'm BSAA (to make a long story short, anti-bioterrorism is where our lines cross).

[doreimi]

Ohhhhhh, so you're work friends from home!

[That is definitely one way of summing it up, yes, Reimi.]

That's great that he's here with you, then! It's so nice to have someone familiar from home. Also, he just won a free drink from me, so you should definitely bully him into sharing it with you. ;)

[torsion]

Nailed it in one! It's complicated considering our work and I know you have some idea what I do so
You get it.

I have a tendency to over-explain especially with just facts, so it's nice you met me halfway ha ha!

I'm gonna give him shit about it. But honestly it's kinda cute, isn't it? I was kind of a weird loner in my teenage years, but I guess the best way to describe it would be like...
Imagine if you lived in the middle of nowhere and your aspirations were more than what they could ever offer? I get the US is bigger but sometimes the disparity is really obvious.
I always wanted to use my skills to help change the world for the better.

Jeeps were hardly my concern. ;)

[doreimi]

Actually...I mean, what you're describing is pretty much my hometown, too. We were close by a big city but my town itself was pretty small and close-knit...a lot of us dreamed about getting out and going other places, including me.

I guess maybe in America that's on an even bigger scale than it was for me, but I definitely know that feeling really well.

[torsion]

I pin you like me. At least in the sense of how I was.
You want to get out and see everything, don't you? Not just other places, but everything, no matter how different it might be.

Sort of like talking about heat or cold. Yeah, it's bigger, but you had your own scale and feeling how things would or wouldn't be. Could be.

Which reminds me, how have you been adjusting? I know it's... well, this place is something? But I think though we're different I see a lot of what I did in you. You're here and I haven't seen anyone talk about how incredible it is for someone your age to do what you're doing.

Money matters, sure, but you don't have that safety net the same way. You're doing what you want, right? I'm always impressed with that. People are afraid to go "there," but we've got this one shot, yeah? Better to fail then live that one shot in a way you'll never be happy with.

[doreimi]

Yeah...I didn't want to just live in the same small town my whole life. I wanted to go away to university and have new experiences like that. I never got to, but I guess this is a pretty good substitute for that, anyway.

And it's been okay! There are tough times, sure, but I really feel like the cafe is making a difference, and that's what matters most to me. Making a difference, not making money.

[torsion]

I guess for me it was the Army I hooked everything onto. Little weird, but it's often pushed as the "answer" in small-town America. For me, I wanted to make a difference.
I wanted to change the world.

I think it does.
What you offer is a really accessible way to de-stress and have "therapy," you know?
I think you're making a bigger difference than anyone'll admit to.
:)

[doreimi]

That must be kind of strange, using something like joining the army just as a way of getting out of your town. Though I guess it's not that much different than any other job doing the same thing. And I guess in the American army you WOULD have the opportunity to go a lot more places...

Haha, yeah! You wouldn't believe how many people come in just to take a nap with the cats. It's the reason we have those big pillows on the floor at all! And it's good for the cats, too, socializing them to be better housecats someday. Because it lets them be around people and all.

[torsion]

It was sold as a solution to a lot of people. Probably still is. For me, I thought it would be the easiest way to make a difference. Figure it out as I go along, right? I was with Delta Force but didn't travel too much since my Army career wasn't long. I settled in a small city where drugs and crime were becoming rampant. The idea was to have a specialized team of people who were especially experienced to help prevent it.

I believe it. I imagine it helps the adoption numbers if they feel like they bond with them, too. People coming and going probably especially helps their temperament.