2671/Tea, Lattes, and Kittens!

Tea, Lattes, and Kittens!
Date of Scene:	04 July 2025
Location:	Cafe BAKE Neko
Synopsis:	Miho takes Amy's advice, and speaks with Mamoru. She finds him at Bakeneko, and the two have a conversation about a few subjects. Kitten therapy may have been used!
Cast of Characters:	Miho Inada, Mamoru Chiba

---

Miho Inada has posed:
    Well a few days after talking with Amy, Miho is taking her advice. The advice to go speak with Mamo. Its close to closing time for the cafe when she shows up. The girl is in an ice blue cropped t shirt, and some black denim jeans. Both fit a little tight on her, but not uncomfortbly so. She sucks in a breath as she looks around.

    The ice mahou takes a seat in a corner, after ordering some tea. She takes a light sip of the tea as she looks around. Several kittens are tussling with each other, making a commotion in the middle of the room. Its a play pounce and fight, which makes Miho giggle a bit! "Adorbs!", she squeaks. The kittens look up. They start to work their way towards the girl.

    Miho giggles as the kittens start to go after the mahou. They pounce on her feet, and as she reaches to pet one, it rolls over to grab her hand and playchomps her hand. The girl simply shakes her head as she plays with the kittens. Hard to be upset with kitties.

    Miho blinks as a few more kitties slowly start to approach her. She bites her lip a little bit, confused, as she starts trying to give all the kitties equal attention. Its hard to do as she's quickly becoming a kitty pile...

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"... Inada-san...?" comes Mamoru's voice, puzzled and amused; he'd come in by chance on his way home, and he hasn't seen Miho since he was tagging along with New Moon-- so he points to his forehead. "No eyeliner! You're even more safe than you were then. How are you? Aside from 'covered in kittens'.

He's wearing a blue t-shirt that says Guitar Wolf on it, black cargo pants, and velcro strap sandals-- his glasses are smudged, and the tips in his hair are red now instead of pink. He has a latte.

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho nods her head a little bit, slowly pulling the kittens off of her for a few seconds. The girl breathes out a little bit as she looks at Mamo. "Well, to be honest, not well. Amy suggested that I speak with you.", she says. The kittens want to play, but they sense Miho's mood. A few give her kissys before they slowly move away.

    "I would understand that the subject is a bit...painful to talk about.", she states. Miho is speaking very proper. She even sits up straight. While she might be safe, the girl seems to be...cautious. Miho looks around a little bit. "Are all Sparkles liked by animals like that?", she asks.

    The girl breathes out. "That wasn't the question I wanted to ask. Ummm, I don't know how to appraoch the question without offense.", she says.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru looks surprised. Amy told Miho to talk to him? Color him intrigued.

The older boy slides into the chair opposite Miho, after scooping a kitten up off the seat and putting it on his lap. (It doesn't stay.) "No, but also, you can say mahoujin. Sparkles is what Obsidian people call us."

He sets his latte down and crosses his legs and leans forward, elbow on the table and chin on his fist. "I won't be offended, but I might not answer if it's too personal. Fair?"

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho nods her head a bit. "Sorry. Didn't mean to offend.", she states. "And yes, I understand. Umm, so...how did you...I mean, what did...screw it.", she says. Miho takes a deep breath. "How do I deal with this void I feel. Hinote and I broke up on good terms, but I just feel...empty. Amy said you broke up with a boyfriend before.", she says.

    Miho is very clumsly at the moment. She holds onto her tea with both hands, but the cup is still shaking. "S-sorry. Thats probably too personal. And, we barely know of each other.", Miho says. She's takes a few deep breathes. The girl is a jumbled up bundle of nerves, and her face betrays her nerves and emotions. She's nervious, scared, and antsy...

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Hey," Mamoru says gently, "hey, calm down, it's okay. You're fine. Do you want a magic calm-down?" He offers his hand across the table, palm up. "I'm a little psychic and can hook you up with some bedrock solidity to hang on to while you talk."

He listens, leaving his hand there, and he says, "You're a member of this community, I've healed you before, you're friends with a good friend of mine-- I think we know each other enough in such a small world. I was sorry I didn't see you at the wedding, we invited everyone for the fights and the party after."

Then he gives Miho a crooked little smile. "I took my boyfriend out to my parents' grave an hour and a half away by motorcycle, and broke up with him in front of it. I do not recommend. It made the trip back very awkward. But I don't think that has anything to do with the problem you're having, right? From what I understand, you deal with it the way you deal with any other hurt. Treat it kindly, with ice cream and time off and being gentle to yourself, and the void will heal."

Miho Inada has posed:
    "Amy had mentioned that. You're an...earth magic user? She said to be careful cause of the effect can be addictive? I think it might be better for me to adjust to my...emotions.", she tells. Miho offers a small smile.

    "And I see. I did not think that I would be missed. No offense. I'm still adjusting to the community.", she admits to. "And I was a bit nervious. Plus with everything going on with New Moon. I did not know what was going on, and felt kinda small.", Miho tells. "My apologies.", she states.

    "Ice cream? Really?", she asks. "That...seems very odd. Then again, its probably odd for me to practice by created a bunch of snow constructs that play with each other. And I have had plenty of time off. That's part of the problem. I think I need to be more...active.", she tells.

    Miho shakes her head a bit. "Sorry, just hard to put my thoughts into the right words.", she says before taking a sip of her tea. A kitten hops into Miho's lap, and she absently pets the kitten.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Addictive?" Mamoru says in alarm, leaning back swiftly, taking his hand back. "I'll have to have a talk with Amy. I'm the guardian senshi of Earth, that's all. I'm a psychic healer; I've healed you before, and you were awake for part of it. You don't seem addicted??"

He didn't take offense at the boyfriend breakup question, but he's both offended and dismayed by the characterization of his power -- not angry, though, just -- Amy said what??? is where his head's at. He shakes his head disbelievingly, waving his hand around then letting it drop to his latte.

"I mean, yeah, good for you on the emotional regulation, though. But I'm not some kind of drug," the prince fusses, sitting back in his chair and holding his drink with both hands now. "Sorry. Anyway. Yeah. No no, I'm sorry for making you feel small. If it's any consolation, I was trying to mitigate the damage she was doing, and you did a good thing drawing that other girl away like that."

Then Mamoru exhales and shakes his head again, slouching. "I'm just giving the standard cures for heartbreak. Ice cream is always involved. Activity sounds good. If I were still evil, I'd run some practice youma for you."

Miho Inada has posed:
    "Well, not addictive in that sense. Like more...you feel safe, comforted.", she says. "I never really thought about the healing. I think...I mimic it with my bunnies, but never thought about it.", she admits. "Apologies. I probably should have thought of how to pharse that better.", she says.

    "I just felt the energy, and how strong it was. It felt...wrong, dangerious, and much too strong. Pulling Yuki away felt needed.", Miho explains. She takes a sip as another kitten hops in her lap. She looks at the kittens, who mew at her. "...I don't think the kittens are planning on letting their new bed leave.", she snerks.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Mmf. I'm still going to talk to Amy about it. If she's going to make my business her business like that, I want her story straight. Even if nothing else about any of this is straight," Mamoru finishes contemplative after starting grumpy. He sips his latte, then puts it on the table and sits up, sliding back on the chair and crossing his arms, hands under them like he's cold. Well, they are in the air conditioning, and he has no jacket since it's like ninety degrees F out there buddy. Maybe he's cold.

"Anyway it's fine. And yeah, it was needed, and you did a good job. You saw a problem brewing and stepped in to de-escalate -- you and I were aiming for the same goal, there. I'm sorry to have been part of scaring you, though. I'm proud of you for being brave."

Mamoru watches the kittens for a moment, then smiles. "At any rate, Kitten-bed-san, distraction and wallowing are both tried and true methods. But being active is a very healthy one, so good on you for that too."

Miho Inada has posed:
    The cold doesn't seem to bother her too much. Miho pets the sleeping kittens a little. "I admit to being overly cautious. I prefer to stay distant, and wait for the right moment to act.", she tells. The girl takes a long moment to gather her thoughts, and sips her tea, only to find it empty.

    "I want to explore more of what I can do, and be more use, but this is a discussion for another time. I think Amy was right to have me talk with you. It has helped clear a few things up for me. Even if it wasn't the orignal intent. And sorry. Its hard for me not to speak so proper around those I feel...are on a different level then I am currently.", Miho says. She stretches her arms a little. "And I do feel a bit better."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"... on a-- different level...?"

The question's echoed back blankly, Mamoru looking uncomprehendingly at Miho. Then his expression clears. "Is this a senpai thing? I make a terrible senpai, just ask Silvia-san. I'm glad you feel better, though."

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho giggles a little bit, and shakes her head a little. "You understand yourself, and those around you. You know what you're good at, and have settled into what is comfortable. And you've grown into your position. Thus, you arn't really scared of too many things, or mask the fear very well.", she explains.

    "Thats a level beyond where I'm at. Not a senpei thing, but recognizing the difference between us. Like you don't hesitate, where I freeze. So yes, at this moment, you are on a different level, where things are comfortable for you, and you make decisions based on what you can do, where mine are based on fear and instinct."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Fear and instinct still inform all my choices," Mamoru says, shaking his head, "that's not going to change. But it's as you said: I'm used to it, I've been doing it a while. So if that's how you're defining it, sure, okay. But it really is just being an upperclassman, I promise. Just do stuff even though you're afraid, that's all any of us can do. The longer you do that, the better you get at ignoring fear and instinct when they don't suit your purposes."

Miho Inada has posed:
    Miho nods her head a bit. "I see.", she says. The ice mahou was about to comment when she gets a text. Her dormmate warning her about getting back to the window. "Apologies. I need to get going, I have to attend a few summer classes, and it is late. Sorry for taking up so much of your time.", she says. The woman scoops up the kittens, and places them on the table.

    "Thank you for speaking with me, and the advice. Maybe I'll grab some cookie dough on the way back to the dorm.", she tells. The girl gets up, and gives a formal bow. So much formality with this one!

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru starts to laugh, then drags his hands down his face. "Have at," he says grandly, gesturing. He lankies himself to his feet in a way that involves elbows somehow, and bows back, form annoyingly perfect. "No, the apology's mine," he says, sighing, then smiling as he straightens up. "Sorry, I seem to have given you advice you already had. You're fine. Have a good night, Inada-san."