1671/Teenage Things

Teenage Things
Date of Scene:	17 June 2024
Location:	Nounamu Sweets
Synopsis:	Philip, aka Phantom, had left a card with his cell number for Chiyo. After some time to think over their last encounter she texts him and sets up a meeting. For a date? With a chaperone!
Cast of Characters:	Chiyo Sakai, Phantom

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Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai had just wrapped up her 'shift' at the shop. Of course she was flexible as to what she actually worked, but Ojiisan did want her to actually keep up with her school work as well as her friends. It was healthy for a girl her age to get out and socialize and meet people after all. Plus, being a student, there was a limit to how many hours she *could* work while attending school per Japanese school system rules.

Settling down into one of the cafe chairs, her apron hung up and her hair pulled down from the ponytail it was often in at work, she regards the phone in her hand. And the card in the other with a number scrawled on the back. Usagi had reminded her about this again with their chat last night and she was debating the merits of it.

Finally with a little nervous breath she shoots off a text.

Text to Philip: Hi! It's Chiyo, from Nounamu. I didn't lose your card!

Phantom has posed:
Phantom has been grounded. It /sucks/. With no access to the graveyard for another week, the Phantom Empire General has been feeling the moon mundane. And with the Oresky Trio out causing trouble, and prove themselves, Phantom is sitting in one of the board rooms of Mirage Corporation, playing on his phone. He's playing a mobile version of Sailor V - and making sure to drop her off cliffs or get hit by a car now and again. But mostly building for a high score. He was about to enter the final level when his phone chimes.

Reading the message, he huhs. Game paused. He flips screens to respond to Chiyo.

<PHONE> Philip Toms sends a text to Chiyo Sakai: Hey! I figured the grumpy white knight from the other night convinced you I was totally bad news. :newspaper: How're you?

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
That was a quicker response than she expected to be honest. It's almost a relief though because that meant she wasn't sitting around waiting and stressing over it.

Still Chiyo's fingers hover over the buttons debating what to send now in response. The little emoji of the newspaper earns a smile. That was normal. Nice and normal and not at all related to her cousin questioning her over a certain too-pretty-for-his-own-good general.

<TEXT> Chiyo Sakai sends a text to Philip Toms: He meant well. He did think maybe he'd been too harsh on you. I'm doing well. Just taking a break from work and studying.

Phantom has posed:
<PHONE> Philip Toms sends a text to Chiyo Sakai: He could have just been trying to be a good friend. Or a guard dog :growly dog: or a white knight. :sword: I figure you're mature enough to make decisions for yourself. Since you're contacting me, should I figure you've made such a decision.

Unpausing his game, he forgot where he was and Sailor V plummets off a cliff and is eaten by a shark.

Game Over.

"Bleah." Philip says and reaches over grab a hard candy to pop into his mouth to wait to see if Chiyo responds or not.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
<PHONE> Chiyo Sakai sends a text to Philip Toms: Could be. I haven't known him that long TBH. :shrug emoji:

Chiyo pauses to lift her hands up to her face, scrubbing her knuckles over her eyes a moment with a deep breath. Dating. He had said to contact him if she changed her mind about dating. That little ache in her chest rises up again only for her to swallow it down quickly. Dating didn't mean 'totally in love with', she had to stop looking at it that way. Dating was 'getting to know someone.' Yes. Perfectly normal for a girl her age, and the fact that he hadn't been scared off by rumors... Plus he was cute. Her hands descend to shoot off another message.

<TEXT> Chiyo Sakai sends a text to Philip Toms: So long as you're not afraid I'll throw you out a window I thought I'd see if you might like to join me and a friend for dinner tomorrow?

Phantom has posed:
The new messages arrive, and Philip's brows arise. By now, he had considered that the girl that helped him before is her, but he doesn't have proof of that she may also be the same girl with the giant candy hammer. He has clues, but he doesn't have that golden piece that starts to pull the entire puzzle together. Sitting up more fully from where he had been settled, he considered the options.

And it takes several minutes for him to respond. She may see <...> appear on her phone several times, before disappearing again.

Finally, she here's the chime on her phone from the incoming message.

<PHONE> Philip Toms sends a text to Chiyo Sakai: Sounds like fun. Where's it to be at?

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai smiles softly to herself as she watches the little dots appear and vanish. Likely he was thinking about the 'thrown through a window' remark. She couldn't really avoid the rumors around school. Some pointed toward her, some were far more vague. She really had no idea which he may have heard.

When the response comes she finds herself letting out a little breath. It's a start. A small start.

<PHONE> Chiyo Sakai sends a text to Philip Toms: Have you heard of Korma Chameleon? It's pretty good and has some interesting options. A bit spicy if that's okay? But they can adjust level too. One of my roommates will be there too. I owe her some hang out time.

"And maybe she can tell me if I'm making another mistake," Chiyo mutters only to get a look from a random customer glancing her way.

Phantom has posed:
Oh, he knows about Ikuto being thrown out the window. And... he responds to that first.

<PHONE> Philip Toms sends a text to Chiyo Sakai: BTW. I won't wander off with another girl if we're on a date. Even if you bring one with you.

With that out of the way, he considers the Korma. He knows it well enough, everyone in Obsidian knows about the supposed neutral ground that it's supposed to be. Philip has no doubt that if Beryl ever got mad enough, she would smash it to show the world what she thought of the so called tranquility of the place.

<PHONE> Philip Toms sends a text to Chiyo Sakai: I can handle a little spice. I'm interested in you after all. :pepper:

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
<PHONE> Chiyo Sakai sends a text to Philip Toms: I guess you heard about all of that then. Not the best time of my life. :Upside Down Tongue Out Smiley Face: I appreciate that though.

Korma was safe. Not just for the 'neutral ground' it represented, but it was also the shop owned by one of her roommates parents. It was safe. If it came down to it she had no doubt she could beg or plead to let herself out through the back. Not that she really felt she *should* but knowing she *could* was almost a bit reassuring given her track record.

<PHONE> Chiyo Sakai sends a text to Philip Toms: OMG :Blushface: Okay that one was smooth. See you tomorrow then?

Phantom has posed:
<PHONE> Philip Toms sends a text to Chiyo Sakai: Who hasn't? Good for you not being a doormat.

That sent, he considers. Standing up for a moment, he summons a mirror, and starts to go through the dress options. What does one where on a date with a potential... well, he hasn't decided what she is yet. He flips from a suit, to his usual clothes, to a tuxedo - which he immediatly makes a face at and dismisses. He'll figure it out by tomorrow, hopefully.

<PHONE> Philip Toms sends a text to Chiyo Sakai: I look forward to meeting you and your friend tomorrow then. I will try to put my best foot forward.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai has a date. Is it a date? It's most defintely a date. There was no misunderstanding what he said when he had asked her to contact him if she 'changed her mind about dating' and now she had definitely set up a date, and...

What would SHE wear? Similar thoughts race through her mind as she mentally goes over her wardrobe. Rising from her seat at the cafe table, she heads for the back. "I'm going to be upstairs awhile if you need me, Ojiisan. I want to pick out some clothes for my closet at the dorm." And date. Mostly that.

A giddy little smile teases at her lips as she forgets her anxiety for the moment in favor of anticipation.

<PHONE> Chiyo Sakai sends a text to Philip Toms: Okay! I look forward to it!

<PHONE> Chiyo Sakai sends a text to Usagi Tsukino: OMG I have a date a real date I set up a date with Philip and I'm bringing Wako because I want to make sure I'm not being stupid again but I have a date!

Phantom has posed:
Philip Toms has noone to contact about the news of the date. He's a loner, someone that keeps to himself. The cover that his mother moves him around alot is effective at that - and it helps he has visited many of those place in his attacks. But for now, a touch of a smile finds his lips. He can't explain why. And he finds himself wanting to put forth the effort to make it work.

"It's only because I owe her for helping me." he reminds himself as passes by one mirror and sees his reflection as Phantom in it.

<PHONE> Philip Toms sends a text to Chiyo Sakai: I look forward to seeing you then. Rest well!

He knows the mirror watches him. He knows it may report him to his Queen. But for once, he's feeling just a touch of defiance for the way she reacted to his disappearance.