1384/Chrono.exe Has Ceased To Function

Chrono.exe Has Ceased To Function
Date of Scene:	04 April 2024
Location:	Korma Chameleon
Synopsis:	Chrono comes to the Korma to pick Rashmi up for the prom! Goro and Ananda Terios are terribly proud of the daughter they've raised, and Chrono is... ... Chrono are you okay? Chrono did you swap with a statue? Hello?
Cast of Characters:	Chrono Harlaown, Rashmi Terios
Tinyplot:	Princes and Princesses Prom

---

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown had been... preparing, one might say.

Okay, somewhat dreading, tonight. Not that he thought he'd have a bad time. In fact, he knew he'd have a wonderful time.

But he also had fallen, hard, for Rashmi... and this 'princess prom' was going to be all about her (at least in his mind). And this was the first formal event the two had done together. He...

He was scared he was going to ruin everything. That he'd end up looking like an idiot. Or worse, make her think he was an idiot.

Chances of that? HA! Not happening.

But of course he was a boy in love, how could he not? What boy in love didn't worry about ruining everything during such a big event? Very few.

Still, Chrono had prepared and now the time was here. Today...

Today was the dance.

He was even getting a ride from his extended family. After all, Rashmi's family wanted her to come and model the dress for them at home. Therefore, he'd be picking her up there.

So, he gave his colleagues a little wave, took a slow, deep breath... and made his way to the door of the restaurant. In a black, with red trim... suit. It looked more like a military suit than a dance suit, but he filled it in well. Now, all he had to do was walk in, wave, and wait for Rashmi...

... It didn't help (or did it?) that he stood at attention as he waited. Hands crossed behind his back.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
The restaurant is slow at the moment, but... curry is very often as communal a meal as any Japanese table, and the restaurant is preparing for a large influx of hungry, smitten teenagers who think the warm, exotic aesthetic of the Korma Chameleon is the perfect venue for a pre-dance dinner. One of the full-time waitresses, Maruko, spots Chrono in his semi-military finest, and can't help but chuckle. "Hi, Chrono-kun! Terios-san said you'd be by, and to send you upstairs. Have a good night~!"

Upstairs, Goro is sitting on the couch, with Rashmi and Ananda nowhere to be seen. Tipping his head back as the door opens, he chuckles, waving Chrono over. "Well you look fit to make a splash! C'mon, have a sit if it ain't gonna wrinkle you too much."

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown gave a small nod to Maruko. He then glanced back to the car and waved. He'd be back soon.

Of course, once he headed upstairs... he gave a small salute to Goro. "Hello, sir. I certainly hope Rashmi thinks so, I tried to make sure I got something that looked... nice. She told me black with red trim would be fine, so I'm hoping this fits her wants. Uhhhh..."

And his cheeks were a little red. "I'm fine with standing. I wouldn't want to look silly, jumping up when she arrives. I wouldn't want her to think I wasn't taking this seriously."

... Chrono couldn't pour CEREAL in a non-serious manner...

Rashmi Terios has posed:
At the salute, Goro passes a hand over his mouth, clearly trying to keep himself from laughing at the mental image that Chrono presents; is he treating the Terios patriarch like a *general?!* "...I think you done juuust fine," he manages after a moment. "...But I'm'a think you'll at least want t'come t'this side of th'couch. Just in case suddenly y'need to sit."

He has, after all, seen the dress. He almost had a problem with it, until he learned how Rashmi would be accessorizing, and until Anada told him he was being silly. But, if the boy won't take the most basic precautions... it's his call.

The door to Rashmi's room opens, but it's Ananda that emerges, practically radiant in just a simple pair of jeans, a tied-off work shirt, wavy black hair left loose, and pride and joy shining through her every pore. "Well *hello* Chrono! Oh that's perfect. you look *very* good and you'll match *excellently.*"

Patting Chrono's head as she passes, she circles the couch to sit on the far side of Godo, giving Chrono room to change his mind if he decides to. "I've *just* finished her hair, she's probably going to be fussing with her crown for a little bit," she says, lacing her fingers in her husband's. "Chrono dear, you look fit to fly apart in thirty directions. Didn't your last dance end perfectly, between the two of you?"

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown managed to look.... incredibly confused. But he did as told. Moving over by it, arms behind his back, legs spread, as if he was expecting an inspection any moment. He just might be.

He gave Ananda a small, slightly nervous nod. "Thank you. You look radiant as always, ma'am," Chrono said. Then glanced past the door and...

"Hm?" he asked, glancing back to her. "Oh, of course. I'm sure it will be f-fine," he said, actually stuttering on the words for a moment. And then giving a little hiccup. He quickly covered his mouth. "S-sorry. I, err, am just a smidge nervous. I didn't expect such an event last time. So I'm not... enirely... err... yers, I'm nervous," he finally just admitted. He'd have rather faced Fate and Nanoha together than face... this.

"Our friends will be giving us a lift there, so at the very least I know transportation will go well..." Pause. "Though... they're a bit... over the top, believe it or not. There was talk of a helicopter... but I think they were joking." They were not. Aaaaand he was rambling.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Chrono's nervousness causes the pair to share a Look. The sort of look that one might make when watching a puppy discover linoleum floors lack friction.

The sort of look that shouts 'Awwwwwww, the poor adorable guy!'

"Chrono, dear... If one thing to us has become clear over the last few months," Ananda says, "it's that our Sunshine is almost as smitten with you, as you are with her. She *cannot* have a poor time, when that time includes you. If there is doubt of your worthiness in your mind? Banish it, because it is a doubt carried by you and you alone."

Goro, nodding the whole way through, seems about to speak up, but is interrupted from down the short hall.

"Okay! I'm coming out!"

And out Rashmi steps, in a lace-up, sequined red mermaid dress that might be scandalous... were it not for the sheer black top worn underneath. Her hair has been gathered up in a long twist braid, and a headpiece made of copper chain with a large, sparkling yellow 'stone' pendant resting on her forehead. The belt from the princess' ball and matching red flats complete the look, and she fidgets with the little black clutch purse in her hands.

Behind her ubiquitous glasses, her cheeks practically glow as she tries to meet Chrono's eyes. "...You look *amazing,* Chrono..."

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown nodded. "Y-yeah. I know. Doesn't... make it any less nerve wracking, oddly. I mean... I just want to make sure she had the kind of night she deserves is all."

He.... really had it bad. And then she came out. "Rashmi, I--"

And.... and the whole world faded away. He stood there, stock still. At attention. Unmoving. Not even breathing. He would have passed inspection with flying colors. If, you know. They didn't want him to move.

Because movement, right then, was an impossibility.

Precia herself could have walked through the door and he'd have been too distracted to notice.

It took a good twenty seconds for some of the Chrono processes to reboot...

"Buh?" he asked.

... It would take likely another twenty seconds or so for speech.exe to recover.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Aaaaand that's our cue," Goro laughs. "We got a restaurant to run, you kids have a good time!" Trading amused glances the entire way to the door, the Terios elders make their way back to the shop floor, leaving the wreckage of Chrono to fend for himself.

For her part, Rashmi blinks, puzzled, then tilts her head. "Uh... Chrono? ...Is something wrong?"

Approaching, she starts to pull her braid over her shoulder, revealing Nicomachea clamped to the ribbon at its tail. "...You okay?"

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown blinked a few times. Just stared.

Finally... finally he could speak. "You... look incredible..." he whispered. "Like... an angel of beauty, radiance and elegance fallen to earth. And you're going with me?" he asked, unable to fully process it. Or believe it.

"... Oh! Right! Err, sir, I will..." Pause. Blink. "Where... did yopur parents go? Oh. Uhhhh. The car is downstairs. Whenever you're ready. Tenoh-san is driving us. If you'd like. I mean, whenever you'd like. We just need to head back to the manor, they're preparing the rest there. W-whenever you're ready..."

And oh yes. S2U was reading highly elevated heart rate amongst other things...

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Rashmi has, thanks to repeated exposure, gotten better about taking compliments.

She has very much less experience in being the reason one cannot speak except in poetics.

Which is why *her* brain shuts down for a little bit, as she tries to crowbar the fact that he said those words to *her,* into her brain. It, obviously, clashes with her view of herself, and for a second she wonders if perhaps Michiru is standing behind her... but she resists the temptation to look.

Instead, she simply steps forward, takes Chrono's hands, and leans down to give him a gentle kiss. "Of *course* I'm going with you," she murmurs. "You're my boyfriend, and you look *amazing* in that suit. And that sounds great... But why are we going back there?"

Chrono Harlaown has posed:
Chrono Harlaown was, fortunately for him, already as red as he could be. Instead he had a kind of goofy, happy grin on his face. "I... am not entirely sure. It was their idea when I mentioned I wanted to make this night very special." He gave her hand a little squeeze.

"So, shall we? Your chariot awaits, my Earthian Princess of Korma," he said, bowing his head in a playful manner before gently guiding her towards the stairs and away! To Haruka... this was going to be... an experience.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"It already is," Rashmi chuckles, wrapping her arm around his, and allowing the young agent to guide her to the stairs, and the car beyond.

Being that she's never been in a car with Haruka at the wheel, it's quite likely she might learn interesting new things about physics on the short ride over.

And only *slightly* less likely that Chrono learns the full extent of Rashmi's vocabulary.

But there's no more cooking to be done, and with the draftees drilled relentlessly on how to assemble and fry the last few hundreds of curry-pan pops safely, she's free to enjoy the night to its fullest. Which is very much what she intends to do.

And maybe Chrono'll loosen up after a dance or five?