Mallside 9: Waaagh!

[Fenric]

[Dana's Place]

Melina snorts

<Ok, now I see why Myobi got mad at him. He's an abrasive one, alright.>

Felina rather decidedly turns her back on the dragon-guy and looks at Arlem

He is as clueless about my world as I am of yours: you don't need to worry about either of his points as far as we are concerned. Obviously, I cannot speak to what goes on or has gone on elsewhere.

[Recaiden]

[Dana's Place]

"Thank you Felina."
Arlem looks right at the dragon-guy now.

"Then that's my doom. I don't have any responsibility for that place any more. My responsibility is here, and my real family is the one that wants me. Before you bring it up, they don't need to understand everything. I don't need to be everything I could. I'm not like you. Go eat your ice cream and leave us alone."

The dragon guy shrugs half-heartedly.
"Well, I can't compel you. Won't. Good luck being here, incomplete."
Turns away, takes a few steps.

[Fenric]

[Dana's Place]

Felina sighs and smiles at Arlem

You make a very nice Vulpan, but I know this is a borrowed shape. As long as I can recognize you, I'll love you whatever shape you are.

Melina titters and Felina sticks her tongue out at her little sister

That too! No point being shy, right?

Melina blushes and turns to look at the ice-cream counter. Felina looks serious

I'll explain the other later...

[Recaiden]

[Dana's Place]

Arlem also sticks his tongue out at Melina. That was almost certainly a joke about him not really being a vulpan as he looks. And it was just the needed amount of silliness.

"Thank you for knowing that I wouldn't leave so easily."

[Fenric]

[Dana's Place]

Felina hugs Arlem

Oh, Arlem: of course I trust you. I'd not have done this if I thought you were going to run off with the next relic to come along with a story.

Melina waits for her sorbet.

[Gullara]

[Dana's Place]

While her customers are chatting, Dana serves up their ice cream/sorbet. When it's all ready to go she arranges them along the counter to be taken. "There you go. Hope you like them. That'll just be [price]."

[Fenric]

[Dana's Place]

Without particularly thinking about it, Felina fishes in her pocket and puts a few coins that come up to [price plus 20%] as she takes her sorbet

You may keep the change.

Melina takes her sorbet and tries a taste

<Mmmm>

[Recaiden]

[Dana's Place]

Meanwhile the dragon guy is handing over money equal to exactly [price] just before taking his ice cream.

Arlem gives Felina a quick hug before trying his ice cream. Someone trusts him. Probably her mistake.

"I guess you can enjoy it, huh, Melina?"

[Gullara]

[Dana's Place]

Dana gives them all one more smile and says, "Enjoy," before she's off to do some work before the next customer shows up.

[Devixer]

M'usic Imporium

Spoiler: Previous posts

Show

M'usic Imporium

Object? Mil has a small stage area close to the entrance of his store for a reason. When people use his instruments it attracts others to buy them. So he just let's Aiden play.

M'usic Imporium

After the first few verses, as the music is heard over in the other section where the happy dragonlady is checking out a few cymbals, comes the drum-half of that song. About in the middle, Catherine absolutely ruins everything she had done to her hair by headbanging along with the music.
"That was good!" She calls over, once Aiden finishes. "Keep up!" Before launching right into another song.

"Keep up, she says, like I don't know this one," Aiden says, before doing just that. The song doesn't require much in the way of blazing guitar solos, so Aiden's more than able to keep up with Catherine.

Dana's Place

The next customer might be familiar to Dana, even if he hasn't been there in a while. Aiden - the normal Aiden, that is - steps through the door. He looks different in some ways, but mostly the same. Mainly, he just looks very tired, like he hasn't had a full night of sleep in months.

[Fenric]

[Dana's Place]

Felina tries her sorbet, and smiles

It's really good.

Melina chuckles

<Looks that way. Might still get a tummyache later.>

[Recaiden]

[Dana's Place]

Arlem tries his own ice cream. Hmm, aren't these supposed to be in cones? Oh well.
"It is. Very thorough."
This apparently comes a surprise to him, that the ice cream is as delicious as people expect it to be.

"Just don't eat it too fast and you'll be fine."

[Fenric]

[Mallside]

Felina motions

Come on, let's wander around: I need something to wear for the full moon party! None of my winter clothes fit right now.

And she heads out into the mall, looking back to make sure the others follow.

[Recaiden]

[Mallside Shopping]

Arlem is following, a little ways back, between her and Malina.

"There'll definitely be someplace. I was able to pick up these transforming shoes at a place down at the far end."

Plus there's all the other stores and mall patrons to look at. An exciting place, really.

[Fenric]

[Mallside]

Felina nods, gawking at the crowds and the stores

Great! So many shops, though...

Melina giggles a bit

<She's waddling!>

And it's true... Felina's gait has a distinct roll to it now.

[Recaiden]

[Mallside]

Arlem gives Melina a little nudge.

"And we'll be sure to laugh at you when you're in the same position someday."

He flips a coin into the fountain as they pass by. The water doesn't change color though.

[Fenric]

[Mallside]

Melina arches an eyebrow

<I don't plan on that happening anytime soon!>

Felina sees a familiar store

Pea in the Pod! It looks bigger than the one on Juniper Street, too!

Melina shakes her head at the cliché name.

[Recaiden]

[Mallside]

Arlem grins.

"Who said anything about soon? But those plans can change very quickly in the right circumstances."

He closes a few steps to be walking right beside Felina. But is also shaking his head at that name.

[Fenric]

[Mallside]

Melina drifts along quietly, still in the defiant denial of the young

Felina, meanwhile, is looking through stretchy sweaters and bulky string-tied coats. They're not ugly, but this is rather a lot less fashionable than she is used to.

Ugh... suburban housewife city!

[Recaiden]

[Mallside]

Let her do that. Arlem suspects that with her family, and her secret background, she'll change her mind someday. Listens into her thoughts - she's denying it excessively right now, isn't she?

"Warm, fashionable, and fit for an expectant mother...it's hard to find two of those, much less all three. You just have to accessorize them properly. Scarves and vests and tabards and throws and detachable sleeves..."

[Fenric]

[Mallside]

Quite right Melina is steadfastly ignoring the maternity wear and everything else in the store, and being the perfect picture of a bored person dragooned into shopping for things she is uninterested in.

Felina sighs

You're right... I think these are tolerable.

She gestures with a trio of sweaters and two pairs of pants.

But none of these coats will do: we need to keep looking.

[Recaiden]

[Mallside]

Dragooned into it? That's not a frequent occurrence, I hope.

"I'm sure you'll make them look good. Coats, coats...down this way."

And if not, well, she won't have to wear them for terribly long.

Come on, Melina. Don't you want to help find the puffiest, marshmellowest coat for your sister?

[Fenric]

[Mallside]

It happens all too often...

Melina giggles

<Yeah! Good point.>

Felina nods and follows along

Fur is nice and all, but this is supposed to be a pretty serious winter storm rolling in.

[Recaiden]

[Pea in the Pod]

Many jokes about fur coats go unsaid.

"And we'll all need to stay warm. "

Arlem points out a coat that indicates he has no sense of fashion.

[Fenric]

[Pea in the Pod]

Felina looks at the coat.

then she looks at her sister... who grins and gives her a thumbs-up

then she looks at Arlem.

Do you really want me to look like the stay-puff'd marshmallow man?

She looks into the distance thoughtfully

It's a thought...

[Recaiden]

[Pea in the Pod]

"Like what now?"

Clearly some cultural touchstone from the foxes' world...Arlem takes a look for that mental image, and for the thought Felina was remarking on.

"Well, it's warm enough, is all. Maybe this is not the best shop for you after all?"

[Fenric]

[Pea in the Pod]

Arlem gets treated to the giant creature from Ghostbusters, including its eventual flaming fate

Felina nods

I don't like these. They're... too...

Felina looks at Arlem and very distinctly sends him this image.

[Recaiden]

[Pea in the Pod]

Arlem laughs aloud.

"No, not exactly the look I was going for. Why not try the selection somewhere that specializes in cold-weather outfits?"

[Fenric]

[Pea in the Pod]

Felina nods

Yes, exactly. Let's check out and try somewhere else for a coat.

Melina rolls her eyes and follows the pair up to the checkout. Felina's selection doesn't manage quite a [modest price] and the fuss seems pointless in the grand scheme of things.

<Do we all turn Scottish when we get pregnant? Or am I missing the point of how spending something like fifteen minute's worth of your salary is a big deal?>

Felina glares at her sister

That is not the point, Melina! I'm not concerned about the price... it's ... it's...

oh... dear...

Just leave it!

[Recaiden]

[Pea in the Pod]

"Melina. It really isn't about the number on the tags. It's about what you one sees looking into the mirror."
"Which really has a lot to do with the eyes looking."

Arlem smiles lightly at the pokemon. She'll understand eventually. Hopefully soon, or she's going to be abusing her powers moderately in connection.