2025-11-26: Storming Shifts
- Log: 2025-11-26 Storming Shifts
- Cast: Ryuzaki Kurama, Ren Amamiya, Maria Sakurai
- Where: Cafe Chagall, Underground Mall, Shibuya, Tokyo
- OOC Date: November 26, 2025
- IC Date: August 16, 2012
- Summary: Ryuzaki, Ren, and Maria all have a shift one rainy afternoon at Chagall Cafe.
MONAD: A party led by Ryuzaki Kurama has begun the event Working at Chagall Cafe.
(|===================== Monad - Working at Chagall Cafe ======================|)
-==== Round 1: Getting to Work on Time - Challenge Level 1 ====================-
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Guts |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1 and Scary - Guts Down L1 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
It's time to start work!
Unfortunately, all of Chagall Cafe's locations are in busy areas -- and being
popular with people getting off their commutes means that going to work takes
time. Time that you hopefully have, with your busy schedule!
Complications can arise, of course. Trains can be late; buses can be held up in
traffic. You might be hurrying back from a problem in Mementos. But, no matter
what, today is a day to work a part-time job!
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ryuzaki Kurama has posed.
It's Thursday afternoon and the weather isn't cooperating, with a large downpour streaming over the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. And this means...
*pin pan pan pon*
"We're terribly sorry, but due to the rain, there will be a delay in the counter-clockwise JL Yamanote Line, we repeat..."
*pin pan pan pon*
"... ... ..." Ryuzaki stands in a sea of people, short enough to be swallowed by the swarm of people even in the holiday month, between tourists, students enjoying their time off, and people who, rather predictably, have decided to take the train because it is running.
NOW
Five minutes until his shift starts. Ryuzaki enters the backroom of Cafe Chagall in Shibuya's Underground Mall dripping wet, evidence of racing through the rain at maximum speeds, which he's fortunately extremely skilled at due to his vast experience with distance running. On a wet surface, one has to make use of the reduced friction even on concrete or ashpalt to increase acceleration while turning a corner, taking full advantage of the Coriolis force from being a person moving within the Earth's rotation--
So says the Professor of Turning Corners, while he pulls his denim jacket and white shirt off while no one's there. They have a very tight tanktop underneath, which is also sopping wet, and they glance around twice before patting themself down with a towel to pull their cream-coloured Chagall Cafe button-down uniform on. Fortunately, the uniform also includes an apron, so it's not gonna show nearly as much...
But there's no hat as part of the uniform... the baker's boy casquette is also sopping wet, and that'll be an issue too. ... they don't have time to worry about it. Ryuzaki's reached for a hairtie to pull their jet-black hair up into a high ponytail, which is a breach of their own rules, but the job demands perfection, no matter what.
There, Ryuzaki thinks as he finishes the tie on his apron. Mission start.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Rain or no rain, Ren has to earn money to support themself. With Sojiro still off somewhere occasionally leaving them notes but never actually appearing, they at least probably don't have to worry about getting kicked out, but they also have no one making breakfast for them each morning and guaranteeing at least one meal a day. They've got to buy even more food, and that means getting money.
Going to work at Chagall Cafe means at least one free cup of coffee, too. Not that they aren't already brewing and drinking at least one cup a day every morning as part of their daily routine, but still. Of course, with the train delay, they might or might not even get to get that bonus...
They at least arrive at the Underground Mall location on time, sort of. Five minutes early might not be 'on time' if you can't change into your uniform fast enough, and Ren isn't familiar with this location--he only signed up to help Minako at the Paulownia Mall location, and decided, when he got a text asking to work at the local branch, to see if it was on par with their other jobs.
There's someone else in the back room also changing by the time they arrive, though they're just wrapping up, pulling their hair up into a ponytail. Ren pointedly faces away from them to respect their privacy and grabs a uniform for themself. They barely have time to change, even though they too got caught in the rain; an umbrella has kindly kept them mostly dry. Hide behind some stacked boxes to change, stuff their wet clothes in a corner and share a look with the cat in their bag to drag them somewhere dry--
They'll have to hurry to put the apron on if they want to be able to start on time. They really can't afford to get their pay docked; Hibari's still teaching them how to cook for themselves. If they catch Ryuzaki's eye in the process, they give him a slight but firm nod of acknowledgement.
Mission... start!
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Proficiency toward Getting to Work on Time! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
WEEKS AGO
"But!" Maria had protested, entering DEFCON 2 levels of pouting.
"Now, Maria, a proper lady doesn't fuss! I've told you, we don't have the money to fix your bicycle," her grandmother, immune to such tactics by now, had insisted. "If you want to get it repaired again, you'll have to get a job."
And that had been that.
NOW
Summer isn't such a bad time for a part-time job, as these things go. Even if she'd ended up working such a long way away! Well, relatively speaking. But the pay had been better than Sumaru's, and if she wanted to get her bike fixed before she had to balance this with schoolwork, too, that was just how it was going to be. Normally, the commute isn't all that bad, even!
Today, though. Today is different.
"I'm gonna be laaaaate!" wails Maria, trying to push her way through the crowds that meet her as she tries to exit the train. Even getting out of the station is an ordeal: a glance at her watch tells her the sordid state of affairs once she's above ground. She has a couple minutes. She has to cross 400 meters to get there. She--
Someone watching from afar would see a glint in Maria's eyes. Yeah. She can do this...!
But first, she stretches out her legs, using a nearby sign as a brace. Proper condition before a race is key!
Her best time a year ago was under a minute. This time, she--!
Late or not, Tropical Storm Maria arrives in a flurry, ducking into the back room to change without even batting an eye (or like, looking). Zoom...!
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Warm-Up Stretches toward Getting to Work on Time! Specialty! MONAD: Ryuzaki Kurama has acted with Professor of Curvature toward Getting to Work on Time! Specialty!
(|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|) -==== Getting to Work on Time - Round 1 =======================================- Ren Amamiya Proficiency Failure Proficiency Base Fatigue: 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria Sakurai Proficiency Success Warm-Up Stretches Specialty Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ryuzaki Kurama Proficiency Success Professor of Curvatu Specialty Fatigue: 0 -============================= Party Conditions: ==============================- Starting Conditions: Clumsy-2 and Scary-2 Final Conditions: Clumsy-1 and Scary-1 -======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 1/6 |= | =====================================================- (|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ryuzaki Kurama has posed.
Ryuzaki jolts at the first sign of Ren entering, though silently thankful he's already dressed. Is that a cat...? Ah, it's because he can't leave it at home? At one point, their eyes do catch -- and Ren gets a glimpse of his cold, golden eyes... wait, Ryuzaki thinks, isn't this person... they were the delinquent with a dangerous reputation in Shujin. Amamiya. Recently it was said that he got into a bad fight and had some severe injuries, perhaps with gang elements or something similar...
...
On his end, Ryuzaki Kurama joined school in another class -- 2-A -- and largely stayed out of trouble; there's some gossip about him because of his good looks, and some of his weird behaviour ("can you believe that guy? He spent all of lunch staring at a snail in the school courtyard...")... but it's as if he was trying hard to just not stand out at all. He spends a lot of his time at school phlegmatic and stolid, largely just observing people rather than joining into anything at all.
... he also always has a baker's boy casquette on his head, which... he does not, now. Was all that hair tucked away underneath?
"Amamiya-san? I didn't know you worked here..." Ryuzaki does quietly pipe up, speaking barely above sotto voce. Maybe if he's quietly amiable, he'll be noticed less than if he tried to brush him off. But then--
BAM
Waffle House's closed, Tropical Storm Maria is here!! Ryuzaki turns and gazes at Maria for a moment longer... zut alors. That's the girl from the haunted house. How did he end up with two coworkers in their social periphery other than 'just a coworker I might never meet again'?
... this is what the mission demands. So be it.
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has drawn a new Challenge!
(|===================== Monad - Working at Chagall Cafe ======================|)
-==== Round 2: A Spilled Cappuchino - Challenge Level 1 =======================-
| Approach Options: Guts or Understanding |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, Curse - -1 to Group Roll (Per |
| Character), Scary - Guts Down L1, and Terrifying - Guts Down L2 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
CRASH!
That noise comes from the cafe portion, with small tables and people dining in.
They get white cups on white porcelain plates. And on the floor, the shards of a
white cup and its saucer, and the spilled contents of a cappuchino are spilled
across a floor. A fellow co-worker -- maybe one of you -- is staring distraught.
And the customer who was to receive it is frowning, mightily. And another, with
headphones in, is walking towards the spill hazard. Quick! It's time to step in!
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
At least there's multiple workers coming in only barely on time today. The rain affects us all...
Ryuzaki's golden eyes are startling, though Ren manages to refrain from staring. They're pretty sure it's not impossible for people to have amber eyes, but those eyes almost look like a Shadow's...
Ren, for their part, eavesdrops a lot on other students but generally avoids interacting with most of them directly. There are lots of rumors that they just don't connect with people because they hear them out of context. Besides which, there's someone else in Class 2-A who's way more infamous than anyone else in it.
So there's an instant of muted surprise when the tiny long-haired boy names them, before their expression settles into resignation. "I just started," they reply, shrugging a bit.
Fortunately, Tropical Storm Maria storms on in, preventing a need for any further conversation. The boss comes in an instant later, right after the sound of a glassy CRASH, looks at the three of them, and settles on Ren. "You! We just had a spill! Clean it up right now!" they bark. (Possibly Ryuzaki and Maria have already left, possibly to do the serving that led to this crash?)
"On it," Ren replies, grabbing a mop and a dustpan on the way as they leave. (Regularly cleaning Leblanc has them prepared for this sort of thing.)
Outside, a customer is scowling at the coworker who dropped their order. Ren settles a hand on the coworker's shoulder if they seem okay with it and refrains if not, and either way offers them a small smile. "It's okay. I'll take care of the mess. You go remake their order." They bow to the customer next. "We're very sorry about this. Please let me clean up this mess for you."
Is the customer mollified or not? Is the co-worker, who may well be Ryuzaki or Maria, able to get out a new cuppa? Either way, Ren will make sure to pick up the pieces of broken ceramic before they can cut anyone... Will they be able to mop before anyone slips on the spill first, though?
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Diplomacy toward A Spilled Cappuchino! Empathy and Patra!
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
In a flash, Maria is changed for work! ...To be sure, though, it's not like she had to do much more than don the apron, lose her street shoes (not literally, but one can never tell with Maria), check her hair and makeup, and swirl back out again into the wide wild world of customer service!
...If not before stopping to turn her head to stare at Ryuzaki. Wait, hasn't she seen that boy before...?
(not a goddamn thought more in that head)
And then the shift manager had yelled and Maria had lept into action! There are cappuchinos to be made, and tiny pastries to be handed over! Wait, what do you mean, with extra vanilla syrup?
She's in the midst of setting someone else's drink down before them at their table when there's a terrible crash. Oh no! A spilled coffee! Or is it a cappuchino? And, someone else is about to step right into it! They have headphones in! They won't hear a word she has to say!
Maria glances over at Ren, who is doing their best to sort out the customer and the mess. Will it be fast enough?
Maria takes a deep breath, squares herself up, and steps right into the mess Ren is trying to clean up. It's like she didn't see it at all! "Oh no!" she calls out, acting like she's slipped in it before taking a sudden dive right... towards that incoming customer??
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Go Loud toward A Spilled Cappuchino! Bravery and Focus!
<Pose Tracker> Ryuzaki Kurama has posed.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Ryuzaki did leave first, and instantly had an order -- a cappuccino -- to bring to one of the tables. Unfortunately, on his way, a customer laughs loud enough and jerks back on his chair, bumping him hard enough that he trips and
CRASH
"Ah... ... my apologies..." Ryuzaki quietly starts, rather clearly a little rattled from the shock of the incident despite their generally expressionless tone, even as the customer starts frowning at him. He's frozen for about two seconds--
Then Ren places a hand on his shoulder. He quietly starts, but looks up and holds the round tray he's holding a bit closer to his face as Ren reassures him that it's okay, and he'll take care of the mess. "... okay, thank you," he quietly says, almost meek. That was surprising... but he doesn't seem nasty at all, not like the rumours that surround him. Almost-- smooth, even.
... the Perfect Server isn't deterred by setbacks, though -- and within a minute, Ryuzaki has done up another cup of cappuccino, with even more extravagant artwork on the foam. His choice of art this time is a black cat that looks somewhat Morgana-like, perhaps because seeing him in the backroom just now made him think of cats...
Which makes it doubly coincidental by the time he arrives at the cafe section to deliver the SECOND cappuccino that Hurricane Maria is diving in his general direction with the customer again. His eyes widen slightly. Will he be able to evade in time and not spill the cappuccino? Or will there be TWO destroyed cups in just five minutes of the shift starting??
MONAD: Ryuzaki Kurama has acted with Guts toward A Spilled Cappuchino! Base! (|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|) -==== A Spilled Cappuchino - Round 2 ==========================================- Ren Amamiya Understanding Success Diplomacy Empathy and Patra Fatigue: 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria Sakurai Guts Success Go Loud Bravery and Focus Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ryuzaki Kurama Guts Success Guts Base Fatigue: 0 -============================= Party Conditions: ==============================- Starting Conditions: Clumsy-1, Curse-0, Scary-1, and Terrifying-2 Final Conditions: -======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 2/6 |== | =====================================================- (|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren doesn't mind expressionless people, having an extremely solid deadpan of their own--and being an observant person, Ren can also catch micro-expressions that others might miss. They thus could tell Ryuzaki was rattled... and so figured letting them go to the back to re-make that cappuccino will give him a chance to regroup, while Ren fields any customer unpleasantness that might resume.
That's the idea, at least. Just as they're standing with dustbin in hand, the pieces of the cup safely gathered, she pre-emptively steps into the spilled drink and dives towards... a customer who'd been about to do the exact same thing?!
Ren swoops for her themself, catching her one-armed before she can crash into the customer--who in turn is alerted and scrambles away before they can slip or get crashed into. This means the way is clear for Ryuzaki to serve that second cappuccino...!!
"Can I have a different seat?" the original customer asks.
...You know what, that's fair.
"You okay?" Ren asks Maria, taking a step back from her to give her space. They nod to the original customer. "Could you handle that, please? I'll finish up here."
And once that's arranged, and the spill properly cleaned, and the first customer settles in with their re-made drink, then what happens next is...!
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has drawn a new Challenge!
(|===================== Monad - Working at Chagall Cafe ======================|)
-==== Round 3: A Salaryman's Long Day - Challenge Level 1 =====================-
| Approach Options: Understanding or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Bless - +1 to Group Roll (Per Character), Ineptitude - |
| Proficiency Down L2, and Soft - Understanding Up L1 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
"Life... life is cruel."
These are the words of the Dead-Eyed Salaryman. He comes up to the register, a
miasma of despair and loathing for his job radiating off him. He looks at the
menu. "Nothing looks good... but I guess I have to drink and eat something."
He sighs. "Why...? What's our purpose? Is this all there is...?"
You might need to cheer him up -- because his vibe is making some of the other
customers physically recoil.
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
The problem here is that Maria has made a serious misjudgement (what else is new) about what the customer's intentions here, and in the heat of the moment--
--and she's nearly destroyed another cup of cappuchino--
--but the cup arrives at the table unscathed in a masterful display of technique and footwork!
With a quiet 'eek', Maria is caught, Ren slinging an arm in before she hits the floor. "Uh huh," she offers once she's back up on her feet, and then grins at them. "Nice save!" she says (one must imagine it as 'naisu seibu' because Maria would say that) before turning to Ryuzaki and offering, "Say, haven't I seen you before?"
That's about as far as she gets though because the newbie (they just started days ago) calls for aid from the register! It's a tragedy, it's a disaster, it's...
...a seriously depressed salaryman. Maria, on arrival, looks him up and down. "What's the matter?" she asks, looking over at the newbie who has an expression on her face like she's seen the torments of hell and has come away scarred for life.
"What's the use of continuing in such a cruel world?" speaks the salaryman. "Every day is the same. I wake up, I work, and I go home. What's the meaning in such an existance? Continuing on... what's the purpose in it? What's the meaning in life?"
Maria looks contemplative.
Flexing both arms in front of the salaryman, she says, "When I feel down, I go on a run! Maybe you should try."
(but of course, Maria knows all too well there are some things you can't just run from)
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Warm-Up Stretches toward A Salaryman's Long Day! Specialty! Ichika Kawase has arrived from Historia: The White Chronicle.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuzaki Kurama has posed.
Maybe Ren Amamiya is just extremely masterful at catching people, the way they swan in to catch Maria before she can crash onto the customer -- perhaps already intuiting what it is she's trying to do, but... ...there's been too much tripping and falling for their taste. At least the customer is served, however...
Maria asks if she's seen Ryuzaki before. A pause. "I don't think so," is the blatant lie they go with. Nevermind that their hair is in the exact arrangement Ruzica typically wears hers. Nevermind the big golden eyes. Ryuzaki's in a different outfit, and that means they're not the same person!!
But there's a depressed salaryman at the counter, and he questions what the purpose of continuing in a cruel world such as this one is.
While Maria gives him some advice (perhaps he should ask her if she wants to go on a run with him), he prepares the salaryman's order... and has some exquisite latte art again. It looks like Ryuzaki's drawn the salaryman himself, with his soul leaving his mouth. ... isn't that just rude?
"If you drink this... soul coffee..." Ryuzaki quietly advises. "You'll be drinking your soul back into yourself, sir... and that's the sole truth."
A pause. Pause. Pause.
Will that joke finally land? He worked on that one for so long in his head... jokes are so hard...
MONAD: Ryuzaki Kurama has acted with Cornbanwa toward A Salaryman's Long Day! Focus and Empathy!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren smiles back at Maria when she thanks them for the save. "No problem," they reply in decent English ('noo puroburemu,' but somewhat less accented).
It's a good thing they're used to relying on dexterity to solve their problems. Those physical abilities don't carry back from the Metaverse, but they're at least wired that way mentally, and that helps.
Maria asks Ryuzaki if they've met before; Ryuzaki basically says no. Ren makes a basic note of this interaction and otherwise moves on with cleaning.
They're bringing the mop back to the back when they overhear a salaryman bemoan the meaninglessness of life. Ren had a customer just like this back at Paulownia Mall's location too... Scary. Why does the future still seem so bleak for people who follow all the rules of society...? As depressing as his attitude is, Ren can't help but feel sorry for him. It must be incredibly crushing to grow up trying to behave in the Correct way and end up feeling lost and hopeless for all your effort.
Maria recommends a jog. Ryuzaki offers some exquisite if somewhat insulting latte art and a joke. Ren stifles a smile at that honestly terrible joke, then looks at the customer.
"Not every part of the world is cruel," Ren offers quietly. "You can try to meet people who you can connect with. Maybe think about what you're interested in and find a place where you can meet other people who're interested in it." (You know. Places that aren't the cafe where nothing looks good to you.) "Whatever it is, though, you have to put the effort it. Nothing will turn around without that."
Then they shrug. This guy isn't going to know how isolated they feel from society and how these things were what helped them, so just in case he's the type of adult who hates children talking to them like they're equals, they add, "But I'm just a teenager, so what do I know?"
Into the back they go to return the mop to its place.
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Understanding toward A Salaryman's Long Day! Base!
(|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|) -==== A Salaryman's Long Day - Round 3 ========================================- Ren Amamiya Understanding Success Understanding Base Fatigue: 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria Sakurai Proficiency Success Warm-Up Stretches Specialty Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ryuzaki Kurama Understanding Success Cornbanwa Focus and Empathy Fatigue: 0 -============================= Party Conditions: ==============================- Starting Conditions: Bless-0, Ineptitude-2, and Soft-2 Final Conditions: Ineptitude-1 and Soft-1 -======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 3/6 |=== | =====================================================- (|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
Yayy slang English friends! Maria beams at Ren.
Have they met?
'No', says Ryuzaki, and Maria tilts her head to one side as if puzzled before chirping, "Okay!"
It's not as if this is a 'first time' for an interaction like this for her, actually...
The others on the floor hurry on over to join her and the newbie at the counter with the salaryman who has lost their grip on the meaning of life. Grayfaced, the man considers their suggestions. They can try this special coffee! That will put some pep into their step (or at least, make them feel less soulless) the young man claims. They can take up jogging! Or so as the young woman claims it'll help him get his mind off his troubles. Or they can try to meet new people, claims the other young person here, which might try to give them some meaning outside the monotony of their job and the pressures of society.
He's silent in the face of all that. One might even suspect that he's silently coming up with some reason why he can't do that, or why it's destined to fail.
But instead, the salaryman slams down some yen onto the counter and takes the coffee from Ryuzaki. In one go, he drinks it down. "I have nothing left to lose!" he yells, before racing right out of the cafe at breakneck speed. He makes a left-ward turn as Maria watches him go.
"There's a sporting goods store that way," she informs the others. "It has good deals sometimes."
Relieved, the newbie slumps against the counter. Saved...!
MONAD: Ryuzaki Kurama has drawn a new Challenge!
(|===================== Monad - Working at Chagall Cafe ======================|)
-==== Round 4: We're Out of Chai Latte - Challenge Level 2 ====================-
| Approach Options: Guts or Charm |
| Conditions: Bothersome - Charm Down L1, Ineptitude - Proficiency Down L2, |
| Scary - Guts Down L1, and Soft - Understanding Up L1 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
"Excuse me!" the woman walking up to the register, while you're on it, says. She
says it loudly. "I want a chai tea latte."
And that's when your manager speaks, over the little wireless earbud: "We just
ran out of chai mix."
It's time to break the unfortunate news. And she doesn't look like she will be
happy to receive it.
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ryuzaki Kurama has posed.
The despair that man exudes only seems to cement to Ryuzaki that it isn't really worth trying one's hardest to overcome the challenges of society... because society was already rigged against you in the first place. As the salaryman chugs his coffee and goes, he's certain that he's only in a perpetual, endless loop and will be back, unwittingly as Ren reflects on how they met someone similar at the Paulownia Mall branch too.
It's better... to just carve your own little corner. They do peek from around the corner of those jet-black fringes of theirs to listen to Ren, though. ... perhaps that's why the school has such an opinion of Ren. Perhaps they have their own little group where they feel welcome. ... is that enough?
Nothing will come without effort, but...
The most crushing blow is when all your effort is for naught.
"Oh... do they?" Ryuzaki puts his hands behind his back and peeks up to Maria. "My running shoes are starting to break apart..." A pause. "Where do you run, Sakurai-san?"
The chatter doesn't last long, because a woman comes up next and wants a chai tea latte. And... they're out of chai. Another customer that looks like they won't be understanding...
...
...
"I'm sorry, but we just ran out of chai..." Ryuzaki intones, drilling holes into the woman with his piercing golden glare. Maybe... maybe someone can soften the blow a little here.
MONAD: Ryuzaki Kurama has acted with Guts toward We're Out of Chai Latte! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Dang. Nice work," Ren tells Maria and Ryuzaki both, smiling back at Maria. Soul coffee and going for a run helped! Or... at least, the customer was willing to try them. They rub the back of their neck as they return from the back. "Hopefully the run does help."
They catch that sidelong glance Ryuzaki gives them. He doesn't share his thoughts, but... if he had, they might've had an interesting philosophical discussion.
They leave to wipe down now-empty tables. As they do so, though, a woman approaches the front and orders something the store is out of. They glance up from their work cleaning, overhearing the exchange between her and Ryuzaki, then circle back. "Even though we're out of that, the Pheromone Coffee is always popular--and there's a deal today on Western tea blends," they offer. "Would you like to try one of those, ma'am?"
Hopefully the offer of viable alternatives will keep her calm.
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Charm toward We're Out of Chai Latte! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
Who knows. Maybe he'll find something at the sporting goods store that will give his life meaning. Maybe he'll take up rollerskating! Or maybe not, and he'll be back again soon to scare new part-timers and make the other regulars very uneasy. This is at this point no longer Maria's problem!
As she watches him go, with Ren praising the both of them for their work, Ryuzaki reaches out to her with a question; it takes Maria a moment to return to Planet Earth. "Oh, uh..." Where does she run? Her expression flattens, and her arms drop to hang stiffly at her sides. "I don't." Pause. "Anymore."
Awkward.
The good news is that, while Ren leaves soon after to go clean the tables, Maria and Ryuzaki are not left alone for long (there's not even enough time for Maria to make her own escape to go wait tables or something...!). A woman arrives to order a chai latte, but.
"Aren't we out of--"
They're out of chai.
Maria, to the rescue!
"Chai spice is pretty nice, isn't it? I've had a lot of of times at various places! But, you know what I had recently that was even better," Maria says, leaning in conspiratorially.
She raises a finger as she talks to her, woman to woman. "Golden milk tea! It's made with turmeric, and ginger, and, uh, some other things! Turmeric's got a lot of health benefits, too, so it's healthy! I bet we could try to make it for you, special, since we just ran out of chai!" Is this gonna work, though?
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Girls' Talk toward We're Out of Chai Latte! Patra and Efficient!
(|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|) -==== We're Out of Chai Latte - Round 4 =======================================- Ren Amamiya Charm Failure Charm Base Fatigue: 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria Sakurai Charm Failure Girls' Talk Patra and Efficient Fatigue: 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ryuzaki Kurama Guts Failure Guts Base Fatigue: 1 -============================= Party Conditions: ==============================- Starting Conditions: Bothersome-2, Ineptitude-1, Scary-2, and Soft-1 Final Conditions: Bothersome-1 -======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 4/6 |==== | =====================================================- (|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ryuzaki Kurama has posed.
"Oh..." Ryuzaki pauses as his question to Maria explodes like a landmine. He stands stiffly for a moment as well, and everything is awkward. Fortunately, the customer is deciding, as Ren sweeps in to once more rescue the situation. They're definitely not pulling their weight today...
"The choice is between Pheromone Coffee, and..."
The woman considers Maria's proposition with a mildly haughty demeanor. "Hmm. I'm always considering my health. Very well, young woman! Please, go ahead, then, one Golden Milk Tea," she decides with pomp and splendour, clearly having been impressed and sold by Maria's sales pitch.
It's Ryuzaki's turn to look like the Depressed Salesman that just left. (How do you tell? His expression hasn't changed one bit. No, it's all in the eyes.) "One Golden Milk Tea," he rings up, for one order of 'Miscellaneous' that's going to get them screamed at sooner or late.
Turmeric has lots of health benefits. The problem is... they don't carry anything remotely close to it. Ryuzaki ends up tearing a bunch of tea bags that sound vaguely appropriate behind the counter and mixing them all together before brewing the tea and topping it with milk, latte-style.
"It doesn't look very Golden, does it?" A sip. The woman trembles... "Ah! Young woman! This is truly terrific! I'll be talking about this Golden Milk Tea all over social media!! Just you wait!!"
She rockets off. In the immediate present, this is a success. However, the looming spectre of the manager chewing them out for inventing beverages on the fly and giving customers fake expectations is not a hunter unbeknownst to them.........................
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has drawn a new Challenge!
(|===================== Monad - Working at Chagall Cafe ======================|)
-==== Round 5: Closing Out Your Shift - Challenge Level 2 =====================-
| Approach Options: Charm or Academics |
| Conditions: Bothersome - Charm Down L1, Bothersome - Charm Down L1, Chest - |
| Add 2 Item/Money/Gear., and Stupor - Academics Down L1 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
The evening is winding down -- and Chagall is closing for the night. This means
that it's time to close shop: to usher out the last, lingering customers. There
are a lot of tasks to do.
Tables must be bussed. The dishes must be ran. Stray cups and plates, sometimes
stowed in unlikely places, must be gathered. The stoves and counters need
cleaning; the floors require mopping.
And the sooner you do it, the sooner you can go home!
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
'I don't. Anymore.'
"..." Ren wasn't the one who asked, but the dramatic change in Maria's demeanor makes it pretty clear that something bad happened to her. They excuse themself for those tables to give her space.
A Karen comes. Ryuzaki might despair that he's not doing enough, but while it's Maria who makes the pitch that the Karen accepts, it's Ryuzaki who actually brews the drink that satisfies her. She rockets off, and Ren watches her go before looking at Ryuzaki and Maria.
"I won't tell if you won't," they say.
At least all these various customers have taken enough time to deal with that their shifts are winding down. Ren had already been spending theirs cleaning, so that's what they continue to do. Given all the cleaning they're doing at Leblanc to maintain the place--not as much as before, admittedly, since it's not accepting customers--they're pretty used to it by now...
At the end of wiping tables and bringing dishes and cups to the kitchen for cleaning, they retrieve Mop-kun for one final hurrah. This time, to clean not just one spot, but the entire floor...! Will they be able to leave it sparkling?! At the least, they're being methodical about it--making sure their cleaning goes top downwards, so that mopping can pick up on any particles that might've fallen to the floor in the process. Efficiency!
<Pose Tracker> Ryuzaki Kurama has posed.
Ryuzaki has a quiet little nod to Ren when they tell him that he won't snitch. ... perhaps they can still get away on obfuscation, even if the lady posts it on social media. After all, she didn't actually take a photo... ...will that end up being a rumour? Drink the legendary Golden Milk Tea, which will boost your health! They might've just unwittingly made it worse on the Aoba Ward branch.
Once the till is quiet enough, Ryuzaki does switch to cleaning, where they actually do look like they're in a better element. They're very efficient about cleaning, like they've been doing it a long time, but they do observe Ren and think that their cleaning skills are pretty efficient too... where Ren goes for the top, Ryuzaki goes for the bottom, working Mop-kun with a little miraculous skill.
"... thank you for supporting me earlier, Amamiya-san," Ryuzaki quietly admits, still not raising their voice, referring to the spill earlier in the shift, perhaps, now that they have a little bit of time to talk.
Their mood appears to have lifted up by the time they're done. After all, while the entirety of this pose has nothing to do with photography, the chance to close up shop can also be considered a...
*drumroll*
MONAD: Ryuzaki Kurama has acted with Shutter Chance toward Closing Out Your Shift! Focus and Patra!
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
She snaps right out of that colder state fast. Alarmingly fast, in fact. Like someone flipped a switch, the Maria they've both come to know (and love???) is returned to them, as she switches into high gear to upsell a drink that's... not on the menu. And not something they even have ingredients for! Maria!!
Ryuzaki does his best. But has he just cursed the cafe to an unwanted social media presence? Are they going to have customers out the door tomorrow for their take on Golden Milk Tea (made from random teabags that are sort of close to the real thing?)? Are they going to get murdered by the manager for making up drinks? ...Is this going to end up becoming a rumor and end up causing who-knows-what??
oops too late
"Say what?" says Maria, perhaps giving the impression that she's already forgotten what they were talking about. Who knows, she might have!
Fortunately, after all that, the rest of their shift goes by far less dramatically. "Whew, time to lock up!" Maria chirps, before moving to start cleaning up. "You know, my grandma has a great trick at home for cleaning in a hurry! She brushes everything onto the floor, and then she sweeps the floor! It's genius," says Maria, who is already busily brushing things onto the floor, presumedly for one of them to then sweep up. "Oh, and if we move all the tables, I bet we can mop everything in a hurry! But sweep first, or it gets gross," she natters on, as if she were talking to one of her girlfriends and not a guy and an enby.
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Girls' Talk toward Closing Out Your Shift! Patra and Efficient!
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Academics toward Closing Out Your Shift! Base!
(|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|)
-==== Closing Out Your Shift - Round 5 ========================================-
Ren Amamiya Academics Failure
Academics Base Fatigue: 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria Sakurai Charm Success
Girls' Talk Patra and Efficient Fatigue: 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryuzaki Kurama Academics Success
Shutter Chance Focus and Patra Fatigue: 1
-============================= Party Conditions: ==============================-
Starting Conditions: Bothersome-1, Bothersome-2, Chest-0, and Stupor-2
Final Conditions:
-======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 6/6 |=====| =====================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ============================================================-
Items: 1, Money: 1, Gear: 0
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
(|===================== Monad - Working at Chagall Cafe ======================|)
-==== Round 6: Coffee on the House - Challenge Level 1 ========================-
| Approach Options: None |
| Conditions: Passage - Completion. |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
You've wrapped up your shift, cleaned the place, and helped balance the cash
registers. And now, the manager approaches, and smiles. "Good work today!" he
says. Then, he hands over an envelope. "Here's your pay for the day."
He gives you a cheerful nod. "In fact, we've got a bit of coffee, still. Want
one on the house?"
Final Loot: 1 Item and 1 boxes of Money!
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren glances at Ryuzaki. They don't smile, but...
"You're welcome," they murmur back at the same volume.
It's reassuring all the same.
Less reassuring is how Maria snaps from upset to "normal" so... abruptly. It doesn't feel natural, and it makes her cheerful exterior a little unsettling. Ren doesn't remark on it, but they do give her a concerned look.
Maria passes on her grandmother's cleaning techniques. "That's what I was planning to do," they confirm, unbothered by her chattering. Whatever else is going on with her, she is a character, and Ren appreciates that about her.
Ryuzaki's grabbed the mop, and Ren is sweeping, so Maria gets to move the tables. Between the three of them, they clean up quite efficiently! Then, once they've moved the tables back...
"Good work today," the manager says. (The Golden Milk Tea fiasco will have to fully unfold another day. Karen's gotta get her post to go viral first.) "Here's your pay--" He hands the three of them each envelopes with both hands, as is professional courtesy in Japan. "--and there's enough Pheromone Coffee for a cup each before you go, if you want it."
"Thank you. I'll take you up on that," Ren says.
Getting to relax after work with a hot cup of coffee really is a great way to unwind... Being extra-mindful of their movements so they don't spill anything and create unnecessary mess to clean after the place should be close to ready to close might just increase their charm.
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
If nothing else, whatever was up just then is gone, sinking under the sea that is Maria.
With even the memory of that customer soon fading, Maria busies herself with cleaning up, chattering about this and that as if she didn't have a care in the world (or a thought in that head). Together, it doesn't take them very long at all to clean up!
Good work, says their manager once they've finished cleaning and everything is sparkling for the morning shift to come and handle. "Of course!" chirps Maria, a natural go-getter. She accepts her pay. Just a little bit more until she's got her bike up and running!
And they even all get some leftover coffee. Win-win!
It's been a pretty good day, she reflects on the way outside, pausing just a moment to take in the city lights.
"Oh. Guess they closed early, or something. What a drag."
Maria, just outside the front doors, goes very still. Her heart beats in her chest like a rabbit's. That's--
He looks right at her. Takeshi Nakata.
Her ex-boyfriend.
Frozen like a deer in the headlights, she stares back at him. There's not even the slightest suggestion he recognizes her. His gaze is the first to break as he moves along. He's not alone.
His arm is draped over the shoulders of another girl.
She'd seen him with a girl just about a week ago. This girl isn't the same one.
She's a statue. Her spine is ice.
Akechi had said that her ex was very popular with the ladies, yes, but that he was a heartbreaker. She'd hesitated, and--!
Turning sharply, Maria runs for the subway as if all the devils of hell were after her.