Valentine's Event Round 2

Sweetie was happy to hear Yuki was willing to try and team up with her if she opened up shop nearby. She always welcomed an increase in customers and profit.

Her ears perked up upon being asked why she opened her shop. She laughed. There was that question again, but she loved answering it. "I just can't stay away from sweets. It's like my life depends on them." That might've been just a little bit of an exaggeration. "Because of that, I quickly began to teach myself how to make them, and decided that I should make a profit off of them, too. I need something to supply me with the money I need for these ingredients."

Not only did she open shop for monetary values, but she found it would be much easier if her potential victims came to her instead of her going out and hunting them. Being what she was, these sugary treats were a decent substitute for what she was really after.

When the leopard had questioned if she obtained her shop through her family, she had begun reminiscing about her family before everything changed. This made her wonder about Yuki's family. "What's your family like? You maintaining a good relationship with them?" She asked her with a smile. Though, there was a brief moment of what looked to be pain and regret in her eyes.

For a brief moment, Yukiko spotted a look in Sweeties eyes that made the purple feline frown slightly in question. Did she possibly hit a sore spot? She didn't mean to, but decided she had apologized too much already for smaller things; this may come across as just too much, and not a genuine mistake on her behalf.

But at least there was that glimmer of pride when she spoke of her shop and how she started right? 

The mention of her own family made her lower her ears a little bit. Would it be okay to tell the truth about who she is? Or should she play it safe due to the walls having ears? She looked over the yellow canine and knew she couldn't keep her waiting for too long; this was something done as a timed event either way. 

"I, uhm..." How would she say it? Should she go into detail or just go over the basics of what the situation was? She pondered for a second.
"My...my parents are no longer with us. My mother died of cancer a few years ago, and my father died not too long afterwards. Doctors say it was a broken heart."

Yukiko found her fingers rather interesting all of a sudden as she began playing with them nervously. She didn't realise how personal these things could get, but it was over and done with now .She raised her head up to look at Sweetie softly, a reassuring smile gracing her muzzle with a slight tint of pink.

"What about life outside of work? D-do you do much for hobbies? Maybe a past time that keeps you occupied on a day off p-perhaps?" She hoped this question would redirect the sober tone now felt around the table into something more positive and uplifting.

A... training accident? Training for what...?
Was... WAS Bast a punch-monk? Like... like he'd seem all calm and collected, and like, reserved and 'balanced'. But then, when someone pissed him off he'd be all... "FLURRY OF BLOWS! HYA- CHA- HWOO- HAH!" Just open palm strikes all over the place, and hadoukens? ...Did they teach hadoukens in training?
Had it been a hadouken accident? HAD SOMEONE BLASTED HIM IN THE EYE?

...Okay that was unlikely. He'd probably just been hit with a stick. A bo staff.
...Still okay bo staff to the eye was bad. ...Wasn't as cool as a hadouken though.

...Oh right the conversation!

"Oh m-m-me?" she blinked a few seconds, refocusing on the matter at hand. Well, time to feel boring by comparison.
She decided to avoid the 'for fun' prompt. 'I sit in my house playing video games all day whilst you're travelling the world' hardly seemed... enticing. 'You say you went to the mountains? Well I played Cloudrim.'
The job it was then...
"Well I work for Dragon Corp... Uh, on their security side," she paused, "Not- not as a security officer! I couldn't secure anything. Apart from like clasps!"
...
Joke dead in the water just move on.
"Heeeh... But yeah, I, er, design body armour and things for the staff. So they can like... freely use their powers whilst suited up! So... more a uniform designer than anything."

"...Dude. Thats..."

"...That sounds so freaking cool?!" Basts face practically split with a smile, all sense of his earlier hesitation slipping away from him as he eagerly leaned against the table, his good eye eagerly glancing over her.

Obviously he'd heard of Dragon corp - it was hard not to, considering all the traveling he'd done - but he knew very little about the company in question. All he really knew was they were one of the biggest companies in terms of technical progession, working towards a brighter future for all, or something??
And here he was, talking to someone who worked for them. Who helped people through her work and she was just sorta casting it off like it was nothing??

Holy shit she was so cool! 

"I figured you might be, like, into stylising and clothes and such just based on your outfit?? But thats way cooler!! N-not that there's anything wrong with just... base fashion, but like." He sort of flapped his hand in excitement as he searched for the right words.

"Like, seriously, don't undersell it? What you do sounds way better than just being a 'uniform designer,' - you're actively working to make peoples lives easier and better! Thats just... wow!"

He then paused for a moment, cocking his head to one side and flashing her another grin, albeit one that was smaller than before,
"Do you do freelance comission stuff? Or do you only like... work on the professional side of things?"

Ember sighed when Aaron confessed he wasn’t too good with talking, either, which comforted her somewhat. Still, he seemed like he was perfectly fine with conversation. Maybe he was lying to make her feel better? 

He moved on to their adventures and experiences, and Ember looked a little surprised by the question “a-adventures? Like what?” She asked, cocking her head a little to the side.

Aaron scratch his head, "Well... there was this time in metal City i stopped this red robot from terrorizing the city," look off into the distance as recalled the events, "Yeah, i was making a routine stop there to refuel my plane and hang out a bit. The the factory blew up and I ran there to find all there bots going nuts under the control of this other red robot."

Aaron shook his outta the clouds and back, not wanting to go off on a long explanation or anything.

"But yeah, that was an adventure. I actually met two people while i was there. They were... Shrike? Yeah thats it, Shrike and that red hedgehog, Caen? Cean? I can't remember..." Aaron was once again lost in thought as he tried to remember their names.

Humble, collected, never influenced by outside forces, Kelina controlled them. Kelina was someone who had a grip on themselves and the world around them - she knew her place, and she refused to let others push her off her perch. Strong, calm and confident. In many respects, Kelina is what Rag aspired to be. She had the traits of someone who was happy and confident with themselves, and Rag most certainly wasn't that. And again, in many respects, she was therefore kind of jealous. And she hoped that if she did get to spend more time with this attractive woman, she'd take some traits off her.

Rag glanced away, rubbing the side of her face with a tiny, shy laugh. Why was she so drawn to bold, stable and passionate individuals? Maybe she just desired someone like that grabbing her shoulders and saying 'it's going to be okay', maybe she just needed someone elses foundation to lean on, or maybe she was just too reliant on others.

Thankfully, this slight movement caused Rag to miss Kelina's slight stumbling.Maybe she should have kept her eyes on her date more, but right now she was far too bashful to stare directly at her. Why, in fact she closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a tiny little snort at the 'cutie' and 'pretty face' comments. And this was coming from someone who had a pretty face. It had been so long since she heard something like that, and she still couldn't fully process words. She was looking forward to it. She was excited for more... 'interesting' scenarios. Kelina was way too good for her, how was this happening?

Still, she couldn't exactly stay silent at this, she had to speak out. Her striking yellow eyes glancing back, she attempted a flirty smirk of her own, "W-well...! I think you'll find that. You're. The one with the pretty face! I-in fact it's not just pretty. It's. I just. I like it a lot and I think you're.... really attractive..." her words eventually fell to a small mumble as she started to play with the hair of her mane, "H-hah... hah. I mean. It's just. I'm... looking forward to it! It'll be... fun. A lot of fun." She didn't want to comment on any 'further scenarios' that Kelina implied - Rag was worried she'd just trip over her own words in her awkward stammering. ...Well, more awkward stammering. Okay. It was solidified. Confirmed. The date was a date. She just took a tiny breath and took a metaphorical step forward.
"So I uh... after... after this is done I uh. I wouldn't mind... if you. Wanted to meet outside. and. exchange. numbers..." Oh god had she asked that? Did she seriously ask that? This was going so well that she didn't want to lose her in the hustle and bustle but was this still too forward? She didn't know! She was bad at this!

Kelina again, simply adored Rag's little motions, her shy movements, and her inability to keep eye contact. Just then, her ears flicked. Was, was she trying to give her a compliment? Oh, how fun. Kelina smile stretched side to side, it began as a chance for more playful fun, but, as she stammered on, it, within Kelina's mind, became more to her. WHATS HAPPENING. She would have people try to pick her up or compliment her on a semi-regular basis. Yet it wouldn't mean much, she would either ignore them, demean them or otherwise dimiss them. But, this manticore was drilling right through that solid, hardened part of her mind.

"A...Attractive?" DID SHE JUST STAMMER??! She was mad at herself, how did she allow that to leave her mouth, no no no. Bring it back. Now Kelina, she did take some pride in her appearance, and was no stranger to this kind of compliment, but, why was this breaking her? Now was her one and only chance to keep her front strong. She would flick a strand of hair from her face and slowly bring her smirk back.

"Well, I consider myself lucky to be given such a wonderful remark from such an adorable thing like yourself~" Okay close enough. She could practically feel a bead of sweat forming on her forehead, before she could shake it off and regain composure.

..Wait, what was that now? She wanted her number? WHY IS SHE BEING FORWARD NOW?! RIGHT WHEN KELINA IS AT HER WEAKEST? Don't break now, keep your cool, you're a strategist right? Don't let this take you down.

"My... number hm?" She would say, with a slight drone, using that sentence to basically stall, taking in a deep breath.

"Hm, well well, asking a lady for her number so upfront are we?" Just then, a grin would return to her face, no matter how smug she seemed, she was, pretty overjoyed she was even being asked for a number.

"Heh, you're lucky I'm pretty into you~" She would say, arms folding over her chest as she bit on her lower lip ever so slightly.

"Sure, meet me after this and my number is alllll yours~" Nice. Okay, recovered. Lets NOT have that happen again? Okay? Yes, good.

"Uuuuhhh..." Keandra blinked a few times, every-so-slightly taken aback by Bast's enthusiasm. It was... perhaps a little much.
She appreciated the compliments and such but - well, it half seemed like her acquaintance here was suggesting her some sort of crazy miracle worker. She enjoyed her job, she thought she was good at it but... admittedly he was coming on a li'l strong there.

"I mean, I'm not... reeeaaally underselling it?" she gave an awkward chuckle, "I mean 'uniform design' is literally... what I do." Scratching behind one ear she looked off to the side; "I'm not really actively making peoples lives easier or better - at least, no more than other people in my profession. Dragon Corp. does a lot for people in the world - medicine and things. I'm just... well, making sure the people AT Dragon Corp. can actually fit into their armour properly."
It was true - at least as far as she was concerned. She wouldn't deny that she worked FOR a company making lives easier and better. But she herself was... well, providing them with practical equipment. She was definitely helping the company. But she'd suggest the same of the janitor. Whilst she appreciated his work, she'd hardly say that he was making everyone's lives better.

...Okay perhaps she was taking things too cynically. But there was just something about that level of exaggerated intrigue that felt a little bit... patronising?
"Though, uh, I would like to get into proper fashion," the vixen tried to bring things back round to a positive note, realising she was probably rather dragging things down, "I mean... this right now is just a nice vest with a good jacket. I didn't want to overdo it for tonight... you should see when I really go for it!" A bit of a mischievious grin broke out onto her face. It was evident she was rather self-confident in her abilities in this field, and whilst she'd like to think she didn't have an ego... she certainly wasn't being down on herself in this instance.

"Not really done much in the way of freelance work though..." she pondered for a second, "I mean, I probably SHOULD if I want to get into the industry but..." a conflicted look crossed her face, "I was gonna say 'I'm too busy.' But I should be finding time really..."
More time stitching, less time playing video games. Still... she couldn't deny that with her work, she was already spending A LOT of time at the sewing machines. It was a delicate balance where she wanted to do what she loved... but didn't want to do it so much as to loathe it.

Sweetie's ears dropped a little upon hearing about what happened to Yuki's parents. "Oh!" She wasn't expecting such a grim outcome from her question. She felt a pang of regret, wishing that she would've chosen something else to ask. "I'm sorry for your losses." For just a few seconds, the menacing vibe she gave off began to wane as her mind was clouded with pity for the leopard despite her reassuring smile.

 Yuki's next question quickly took her mind off of the depressing atmosphere. She almost blurted out the fact that she spends a good bit of her free time following potential victims, but she quickly bit her tongue and responded with a half-truth. "I go out a lot when I can. Go to new places, interact with new people. Nights are usually the best time for me to do so. Everything is dark and quiet, and there's not so many people out and about." It was a perfect time to do her hunting. It'd be hard to spot her clearly in the dark, and the lack of people roaming about greatly decreased the chances of a witness.

She laughed. "What about you? Surely there's more you enjoy doing besides cooking." She asked with a smile.

"Mmm, I dunno. Making it so people can use their powers more freely, or aren't as restricted by negatives or- just. Sounds a lot more impressive than 'helping people fit into their armour better?' Buuuut maybe that's just me!"

He gave a small shrug as he finished his point, his single eye still glittering with the light of enthusiasm and interest, although he allowed most of that initial energy to seep away.
In hindsight, he'd definitely over done it. But hey, whats done is done and he refused to feel guilty over his excitement - it did sound cool! He'd met a couple of people in his travels who could really benefit from specialised clothing like that, but he bit his tongue before he could push the point.

Best not to overdo it, hm?

"And you should!! I know it'd take a bit of time to break into it and all, but I imagine you'd go far! Especially if this," he made a gentle sweeping gesture towards her, "is you being humble. I reckon a walkway would be blessed to host you and your creations~"
He was happy to return to the mischevious grin in turn, once more glancing over her again, "Hmm... I'd like that. Would be interesting to see you without your self-imposed limitations!"

For a moment he considered pushing his luck, possibly asking about meeting up for drinks at some point soon, but decided he was better off sticking to his own advice he'd given Stella earlier - this was, after all, meeting two of three! Who knows, maybe they'd both be smitted by whoever they meet next, and it'd just be awkward to cancel plans, you know?

He realised then she'd continued speaking, and he took a moment to digest her words. He gave a tiny nod, his fingers gently clattering against his bead necklace.
"Ha!" he chuckled suddenly, his smile twitching with amusement. "Trust me, I reckon you're hardly alone on the 'busy' side of things. But you should consider it! Much like the modeling-and-designing thing, I reckon you could do well!"

Aaron began to talk of an adventure that he had had previously, one that took him to Metal City. It was pretty far away, from what Ember could remember of her world before it was destroyed, but one thing struck her train of thought, derailing it instantly.

She stood up, slamming her hands on the table “wait, you know fa-“ she cut herself, slowly sitting down, again. “You- You know Caen? Oh, how great. He’s a... he’s a good friend of mine... Yeah...” Ember said, laughing awkwardly.

Aaron was rather surprised when Ember jumped up at the mention of the red hedgehog, 

"W-well ya, short hair, blue coat and two swords right?" Aaron perked up a bit, finally something they had in common, "Yeah, I met him there, real great guy." Aaron could tell there was something she wasn't saying, was she about to call him dad? He poked a little deeper, "Yeah, he has neat abilities and such... say... your name Is ember right?" He said as he looked at her, "funny how y'all both have fire related names," he looked for a reaction, "Your last wouldn't happen to be flare as well huh? That'd be funny."