The Arrival

Taiyo looks confused.

Taiyo: "So you're moving in with Eve?"

"I'm just kidding," Sab said with a smile. She sent a reply to Noct saying, 'Aroma and I are coming too. We're with Mortal.'

"I actually hope she does get with her. Then she can go out more, and I can have the room to myself," Mortal said.

"And do what?"

"...I don't know, walk around naked or something. I'll cross that bridge when I get there."

--

Noct smiled, "Good for you. She seemed like a nice person. Cute too."

--

Gabe wrapped herself in her towel and opened the door to see what was up.

*Aroma looks Mortal up & down. Catching herself, she flushes red & looks pointedly away.*
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"And not a lesbian. I'm noticing that most girls I've met lately are. And that all of my friends are girls."

*Senthose gathers his things & puts on his backpack.*
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*Still nothing.*
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"Looks like it. But in a strictly platonic, non-homoerotic way. By the way, you can have the bed. You're a guest."

Taiyo: "Right."

And so Azuma and Mimiru stroll on over.

Azuma: "Looks cramped."

{Yeah...could I come give it to you?}
---
*Eve shrugs*

<If you insist.>

"Well, where are you? I'm just heading out for lunch with some people now, so..."

Grimm looked for a bus stop near the front gate.

Hector and Eduj kept on going.

"Don't worry, I have my eyes set on someone else, and I don't make it a habit of going after someone my friend is interested in," Noct said, "Just saying that I think she is good looking. I'm complimenting your taste." Noct then shrugged, and began walking towards the door, "I'd say it isn't my fault, but I guess it kind of is. No one forced you to be my friend though." She opened the door for Senthose, then sent out a quick reply to Sab, 'Cool'.

--

Sab and Mortal both catch that. Mortal looks at Sab, who herself flushes because her girlfriend just openly ogled their mutual friend, but tries to hide it, "So-- uh--" Her phone goes off, "Look at that, a message!" Sab pulls out her phone and uses it to escape the awkward situation.

--

Gabe gets dressed in a pink sweater, and white jeans, and an old pair of canvas sneakers. After getting dressed she sits at the edge of her bed, and checks her phone, which was charging on the wall. Seeing Noct's text she replies with, 'Sure. Sorry for the late reply, just got out of the shower.'

T"No, there's plenty of room."

*She scoots closer to Roatha.*
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*A bus pulls up in front of Grimm.*
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"Well, thanks. I'd compliment your taste, but frankly, I find Astarte kind of annoying."
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*Aroma continues to stew in her own shame, not looking at anyone or saying anything.*

And so the two squeeze in.

Azuma: "Anything new and terrifying happen so far?"

"Really?" Noct said with a shrug, "She seems kind of quiet and introverted. I didn't even know you two talked that much." She chuckled, "Well, not that it matters, you're not the one trying to bone her." She then looked at her phone, "Gabe is coming too. That's everyone."

--

Mortal let out a sigh, "Listen, I'm a beautiful person. There is no need to get all awkward. It'd be weird if the thought of me naked didn't make you blush."

"I... guess so?" Sab let out a sigh, "It is just a bit weird. Noct is attracted to Aroma, we're attracted to you--"

"No one is attracted to Gabe. Yes, I know," Mortal said, "Doesn't mean it has to be weird. You and Aroma are together, and everyone respects that."

Sab felt bad, "I know... I'm sorry, Aroma."

"Still kinda weird though," Mortal said, "Can we try to at least ogle me when I don't have to worry about girlfriends being present."

--

Gabe began heading down towards the restaurant when Noct replied with, 'Cool'.

Astarte is still heading for that restaurant.

Hector and Eduj will presumably reach the bar sometime.

Grimm looked to see where the bus was going.

*The sign indicates that it's going to the supermarket.*
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*The bar is mostly empty. Vanessa is sitting at a table nearby.*
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"We haven't talked, I just find her annoying. And okay."

*They are now walking to a restaurant.*
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*Astarte arrives first, & the waiter asks her if she's alone.*
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*Aroma looks up for a minute & then looks at her feet, rather wishing that she'd just be swallowed up by her own shadow right about now.*

"I just...I...sorry...."
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T"Not since last week. We're just discussing the finer points of the buddy system."
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<Hey!>

*One of Gabe's track buddies runs up & looks around.*

<Where'd that guy go?>

"I forgive you," Mortal said, "Now lets go get some food."

Sab reaches out and tries to hold Aroma's hand.

--

Noct just chuckled, not bothering to question how someone could be annoying with so little interaction.

--

"Oh hey," Gabe said with a smile, "What guy?"

"Ah, I'm waiting for some people," Astarte said.

Hector gave her a curious look, having thought that she was either dead or hiding somewhere out of town, but didn't approach. He and Eduj got some beer and sat at the bar.

Grimm got on the bus, paying the fare in loose change and sitting near the front.

<I see. Do you know how many are in your party?>
===================================
Bartender<Bit early to be drinking, isn't it?>

*Meanwhile, Vanessa moves her seat to stare at them.*
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<I saw a guy come with you out of the dorm building. I couldn't make him out clearly, but he had a black suit & a fancy hat. I thought he was your boyfriend, but now that I think of it, that doesn't really make sense, does it?>

*She scratches her head.*
===================================
*Sab finds that it's really hot & kind of sweaty. She just allows herself to be steered wherever they go.*
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*Eventually, it stops at that supermarket.*
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*Lilith jogs up to Noctsthose as they're almost at the front gate.*

L"Hey there! Thanks for the invite, I was bored AND hungry."

Gabe felt a chill run up her spine, "Are you sure. I don't remember seeing anyone as I was coming out."

--

Sab endures it, and leans in to quietly say, "I don't want anything to be awkward. Lets just enjoy our day. Please."

--

Noct waved, "Hello, Lilith. Nice to see you again."

"Three, but maybe more, I'm not sure," Astarte said, wishing she had waited outside.

"No problem with a beer before lunch," Hector replied. Eduj was looking over his shoulder and staring back at Vanessa.

Grimm got off and found an ATM, taking out a little bit of his remaining money before going into the market.

<Would you like to just wait for them on that bench, then?>

*He points to a padded bench.*
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*The market is mostly empty.*
==============================
<True, true. So you're thinking of getting lunch here?>

*Vanessa glares.*
==============================
L"Thanks. It's good to see you...."

S"Noctis."

L"Noctis! That's right. Sorry, I didn't remember your name. And after you remembered me, how embarrassing...it really is nice to see you again."
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"I'm sorry, I'm trying! ...Did I yell? I'm sorry...am I apologizing too much? I'm so sorry."
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<He was behind you, but pretty close, like right over your shoulder. You don't think you're in danger, do you? Maybe I just imagined it. But...no, I'm pretty sure I saw something.>
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*Euryale looks around, noticing that most are pretty much done with their food, then looks over to Taiyo.*

E"Are you going to get any lunch, Sweetie?"

T"I think we'll go ask the police about our case. After that, we'll be...around, I guess."

*She shrugs.*

"Oh, sure, thanks," Astarte offered a little smile and went over to the bench where she sat looking at her hands folded in her lap.

"Sure, if that's possible. We haven't before, or I haven't," Hector looked over at Eduj to ask if he had, but noticed him staring over his shoulder and followed his line of sight back to the creep glaring at them. He turned back to the bar tender.

Grimm bought a loaf of bread, a water bottle and a cheap backpack. He put the former two items in the backpack.

Noct looked down and chuckled, instantly feeling much less effort to come off friendly to her. She looked back up quickly, and made a dismissive gesture with her hand, "Don't worry about it. I'm just good with names."

--

Sab was just making everything worse, so she stopped talking.

Mortal was praying that they were close.

--

Gabe chuckled to cover up her nervousness, "I was in a bit of a rush to meet some friends for lunch. Maybe I was just distracted and didn't notice. That is probably it."

Azuma: "Not a system that I'd think to still have to rely on at this point."

Taiyo: "Oh, um...yes."

And so she goes to get lunch.

*They happen upon Gabe being questioned near the front gate.*

<But...where did he go?>
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<Yeah, we can be open this early primarily because we also serve food. Uh...did you have a bad break up, or something?>

*His gaze trails towards Vanessa.*
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"If you say so...so, you've been okay since then? No one's attacked you, or anything?"
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*Astarte can see that Senthose, Lilith, & Noctis are just outside of the restaurant.*
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*Euryale smiles, & waves to RET as they head out, then shrugs.*

"Well, there's not much else we can do. If we only knew how that person you told us about managed to hurt the Shadow, then maybe we'd have a way to fight back."

Azuma: "Magic bullet or something of the sort."

Astarte looked to see if they were coming in or if they were going to wait outside for someone.

"No, but I had a class with her..." Hector lowered his voice after a small sigh. "Best thing is to ignore, I guess."
He nudged Eduj to make him stop staring back and looked around for a menu of some kind.

Grimm started walking home with the bag slung over one shoulder.

{Oh, um, I can come drop it by after you get done eating or something.}
===
Eve:<Should I go get my stuff together?>