206/Tori's Important Mission

Tori's Important Mission
Date of Scene:	05 August 2023
Location:	Ice Cream Parlor
Synopsis:	Tori embarks on her most important mission yet: befriending Fate Testarossa over ice cream.
Cast of Characters:	Tori Morte, Fate Testarossa

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Tori Morte has posed:
    One would think that during summer, the ice cream parlour would be even more packed than usual. However, since the main clientele are Radiant Heart Academy students, and a bunch of them have gone home for the summer, there's not as many people crowding the ice cream parlour at lunch time on this sunny saturday.

    There's still enough that Victoria 'Tori' Morte is forced to sit outside, though. She doesn't mind so much - there aren't a lot of bugs in the city, and they tend to avoid the ghost sitting opposite her anyway. Tori is dressed in a pink t-shirt with a cartoony grinning skull on the front, a pair of charcoal grey denim shorts, ankle socks, and pink sneakers. Her hair is tied with a pink ribbon.

    Before her sits an enormous sundae, which she is diligently working her way through with a blissful smile on her face.

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    It's a fine summer day. A good day for a walk, and considering that Fate hasn't seen hide nor hair of any Jewel Seeds, or any Lost Logia that might interest her mother, she's been a bit on edge. That might be why Arf tugged her to go for a walk- the ever faithful familiar doing her best to calm and ease her master's nerves.
    This is why Fate Testarossa is out today, holding a leash. On the end of that leash is a tiny red dog pup. Arf is actually a wolf, but in this tiny form no one's going to be able to tell.
    <See? Isn't this great? It's nice, quiet, you can just relaaaaax Fate~.> Arf chirrups mentally.
    <Mn...> The twintailed blonde murmurs back as they start passing the ice cream parlor.
    <OH! Fate! Look, ice cream! You should stop and get s------ooome...> Arf starts to say before SOMETHING gives her a shiver and she cowers behind Fate's leg, whining, as they pass Tori's table.
    "Ah... Arf? What's wrong?" The blonde says, confused before glancing up.
    She can't see Tori's ghost friend, so she's clueless.

Tori Morte has posed:
    Tori takes a bite of ice cream, and closes her eyes with a happy smile on her face. She doesn't know why, but the ice cream here is just... different, to the stuff at home. Do they use different ingredients? This is only vanilla... although it has little black specks that she's not used to.

    She's jogged out of her ice cream-induced reverie by a canine whine. She opens her eyes, and looks directly at Arf. "Oh... oh no, don't be scared!" she implores, sliding out of her chair and approaching Fate so that she can kneel down and offer Arf a hand. "<Sayo is a good girl! She won't hurt you. Poor thing...>" She says in English, then looks up at Fate, and smiles apologetically. "Um, sorry. Sometimes we- um, I have this effect on animals..."

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    Ice cream is nice and all, but Fate is more concerned as to why her Familiar is having a shiver fit in the middle of the street.
    <H-holy crap, Fate, I don't know what it is, but I just got the SUPER HEEBIE JEEBIES.> The wolf pup whines, remaining hidden behind the twintailed blonde. This means Fate is the one who has to encounter Tori.
    "... Who is Sayo?" Ah, it looks like she understood that, before the other girl addressed her a bit more directly.
    "... Sorry. Arf is normally more personable. But something seems to have spooked her."

Tori Morte has posed:
    Tori giggles. "...I need to stop using English as a secret language, lots of people can speak it huh... Um. Sayo-chan is my friend. She's, uh..." Tori rubs the back of her head as she stands up. "She's a ghost. A totally harmless and friendly ghost who doesn't want to hurt anybody."

    Tori glances over at the empty chair the heebie jeebie feelings are coming from.

    "Animals are more sensitive to ghosts than most humans... I dunno why that is."

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    Arf is staying as far the heck away as she can from the heebie jeebie chair.
    Fate, however, blinks.
    "A ghost?" Her gaze follows Tori's look to th empty chair. She sees... Absolutely nothing. This results in an incredulous little frown, but. She can't explain what makes ARF, stalwart and valiant Arf cower like this without any better explanation.
    "... I see." She sounds skeptical, but.
    There kind of is no better explanation, really.
    "I've never met anyone who could make friends with ghosts, before."

Tori Morte has posed:
    Sayo is really trying her best to project Safe Happy Feelings, but she's not exactly a powerful ghost so her control over that sort of thing isn't very good. The best she can do is try to smile at Arf and hope it gets across!

    Tori giggles. "Oh, I'm good at making friends with all sorts of people!" she boasts. "But, uh, yeah, I can... see ghosts. Not everyone can. That kinda surprised me when I was younger~" She smiles, then offers a hand. "My name is Victoria, but most people call me Tori." She edges to the side slightly to put herself between Sayo and Arf.

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    Poor Sayo means no harm, and here's Arf being a drama queen...
    But then it's time for introductions.
    "Fate Testarossa." Fate says, voice soft. And though she's doing her best to be personable for both herself and her whiny Familiar, there's no missing the almost tired melancholy behind her scarlet eyes as she takes the offered hand for a polite shake. "Pleasure." She adds, polite to a fault.

Tori Morte has posed:
    "Fate... Testarossa-chan... wait, you're the one Takashi-san mentioned! I knew I recognised you!" Tori suddenly says, beaming brightly. "Hey, do you want a sundae? That's why you came here right? My treat! Oh, and would Arf like something too? ... Can doggies eat ice cream? I know they can't eat chocolate..."

    Tori is smiling brightly. Fate needs friends, does she, Takashi? Then Tori will be her friend!

    Surely nothing negative can result from this!

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    Another slow blink, and Fate's brow furrows. Especially when Tori mentions Takashi. "Ah, you've met him." She acknowledges. The offer of a sundae makes her pause. "I..."
    Arf, who has regained some of her spine does mentally chime: <Faaaaaate... You should never say no to a treat.>
    "... I suppose." She relents after a moment of thought. She SHOULD be focusing on finding Lost Logia for her mother but. ... There's kind of nothing at the moment, so.

Tori Morte has posed:
    "The ice cream here is really good! Make yourself comfortable, I'll be right back~" Tori chirps like the birdy she's nicknamed after, and scurries off!

    Leaving Fate and Arf alone with Sayo.

    Since it's still crowded inside, it takes Tori a little bit of time to make it to the counter to order, but she's determined to get her New Friend something to brighten up her day. After all... Tori can't help but feel a subtle sadness to her, and it's her duty as a Memoriate to help Fate forge happier memories.

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    Left alone with a ghost. ... Kind of awkward. Fate purses her lips and settles into a seat, eying the empty seat across from where Tori had been sitting. Arf scootches AWAY from that seat, huddling in the shadow of Fate's chair as the blond settles in.
    ... Very awkward.
    <Soooooo. ... Do we like. ... Say hi?>
    Fate opts to remain quiet while waiting for Tori to return, folding her hands in her lap.
    "How did you meet Agera?" Fate does ask when Tori gets back.

Tori Morte has posed:
    Tori returns, carrying a large sundae in one hand and a small bowl in the other. "So it turns out ice cream isn't good for dogs, but they gave me some wafer biscuits for Arf-chan~" Tori declares as she settles back down at the table. "I... forgot to ask you what flavour you liked, so I got you vanilla. Most people like vanilla right?" Tori rubs the back of her head.

    "Oh, I met him while we were shopping for, um, manga. We stopped at this kinda cute soda cart. Jan Ken Pop, they have tons of really interesting flavours... um, anyway, he happened to be walking by and also wanted a soda 'cause he was injured and wanted something to cheer himself up, I think."

    Tori begins eating her own slightly-melted sundae. "He mentioned he had a friend who was my age and he got all big-brothery and asked me to be nice to you if we ever met. Not that I wouldn't have been nice anyway~"

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    "Vanilla is fine." Fate isn't going to complain or say no to a free treat, as Arf put it. Arf's tail even starts wagging at the mention of biscuits. But then Tori explains how she met Takashi. ... He got big brother-y. ... Interesting.
    "... I see." That's not something she had expected. Nevertheless, Fate starts slowly whittling at her sundae, as to not be rude. It IS good, though.
    "Mn. How long have you... Been able to see ghosts?" She is legitimately curious.

Tori Morte has posed:
    Tori sets the bowl of sweet wafer biscuits on the ground. She doesn't think dogs can actually taste the sweetness that well, but she's told dogs like crunchy things!

    And of course, Arf isn't really a dog.

    "Mmmh... forever, really," Tori admits. "Mom is a mortician and dad's a surgeon, and... um, our family name is 'Morte'. I dunno if that has anything to do with it, though. Mom and dad can both kinda sense ghosts, but they can't see them like I can," Tori continues.

    "I'm from England originally, although you probably knew that... I dunno if that makes a difference either, though, I've totally met Japanese people who can sense ghosts."

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    Needless to say, Arf starts digging into the wafers. Crunch crunch crunch crunch.
    And because she's not ~actually~ a dog, she can enjoy them all the more!
    But that's niether here nor there. Fate nods silently for a beat, trying to not think about how bleak the work of a mortician must be. "I gathered." She says at the admission of Tori's homeland. ... Though she doesn't give her own nationality in return.
    'Hello yes, I'm an alien from another planet' would be be... Bad.
    "Have you? This is..." Well it's Fate's first experience with the mortally challenged.
"New to me."

Tori Morte has posed:
    Tori lowers her voice a little. "I'm sorry if Sayo is making you uncomfortable. She is a good girl, but... I mean, she's also a dead person, and it's not weird to react badly to that. I could ask her to go home?"

    She glances at the empty chair. "..Don't be silly, nothing's going to happen."

    "...Sorry, Sayo-chan sometimes worries about me, eheh. Y'know, with how some places have been having accidents lately, she's worried something might happen if she's not here~"

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    "It's fine." Fate says in regards to sending Sayo away. She is the one interruptiong Tori's time with her friend(?). Living or dead, that would be rude.
    "Accidents?" Fate does ask though amid slowly working on her sundae. Even Arf has calmed down now that she's uh. ... Focused on eating.
    It's not ramen but it's still good.
    "What kind of accidents?"

Tori Morte has posed:
    "Well, you know how the mall got closed down for a bit? There was... like, a gas leak or something, I think? And this place had to shut down for a couple days for some reason because someone got hurt, and then there was... well, there's been a lot of accidents and stuff lately, is all."

    And monsters. Lots of those lately.

    "But you can't always be worried about that sorta stuff happening. Memento Mori. You need to live your life~"

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    "Oh."
    Oh those accidents.
    A gas leak. Sure. That's what happened.
    Those kinds of accidents.
    "I'm sure if you just keep alert you can avoid that kind of thing." Fate murmurs quietly amid scoops of ice cream.
    The ice cream really is good. Maybe she could invite her mother here sometime. ... Assuming Precia ever manages to pry herself away from her very important work.
    Fate understands how busy she is though, and pushes the thought from her mind quickly.
    "That's right. Life must be cherished." she syas quietly.
    Even if she quietly pines to spend more of hers with her mother.

Tori Morte has posed:
    "So... do your parents live here in Tokyo?" Tori suddenly asks. "You're a Radiant Heart Academy student, right? I think I've seen you around... and, well, you're um... I mean 'Testarossa' definitely isn't a Japanese name. Most of the foreign students have gone back home for summer."

    Tori, a foreign student, apparently has not gone home for summer. "The dorms feel kinda empty without anyone else here, heh."

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    "My mother and I live here." Fate replies. Though that doesn't seem to be 'I live with my mother' as an answer.
    "She's... Very busy." That's one way of putting things as Fate dabs at the corner of her lips with a napkin.
    "Yes." She does reply to the second question. "I'm in Grade 4. But I don't stay in the dorms."
    Ha ha ha, most people would jaw drop at Fate's accomodations, actually.
    "Mn. I understand. If not for art, the apartment would feel very empty as well."

Tori Morte has posed:
    Oh. So that's why Takashi wanted Tori to be nice to Fate. He definitely saw her as needing more friends.

    ""Ah, I see, that makes sense. My parents are busy a lot, too, it's why I'm still here rather than going home. Well, that and they couldn't afford the flights, eheh~"

    "Oh, I'm in grade four too. You're not in my homeroom, but our gym class is kinda huge so..." She giggles, and shrugs. "Well, anyway. I hope this isn't too forward for someone you kinda just met but... would you like to see a movie together some time? It'd be nice to do stuff with someone my own age, Sayo can be dull company sometimes~" Tori says, and then giggles in reaction to... whatever it was that Sayo did in reaction to being called dull company.

    Tori is doing her best to focus on Fate, but Sayo is right there, and she can't turn her ghost vision off.

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    Fate really doesn't have very many friends does she? It's something the blond ruminates on silently for a moment.
    She has Arf, and up until now that's all she's ever needed but.
    "I..."
    <Faaaaaaaaaate. Don't say no to a treat~."
    There's a brief beat where she looks at her dog, frowning.
    "M-... Maybe." She decides, relenting. "I'm also very busy. ... With my studies." She says to clarify.
    But by studies she really means her hunt for the Jewel Seeds. But she doesn't say THAT while Tori has her giggles due to Sayo.
    "... Maybe soon. If things lighten up for me."
That's not a no!

Tori Morte has posed:
    Tori beams at Fate. "Okay! Well, give me your number and we can hash out a date and time to go do something. Doesn't have to be the movies, but... we can talk about that~" Tori giggles a bit. "You know how I said I'm good at making friends? That was a lie I'm totally socially awkward, so be patient with me~"

    Tori digs out her phone to get Fate's number.

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    Oh right. Sharing contact information. That's important. Fate nods when Tori clarifies that it doesn't have to be a trip to the movies but pulls out her own phone.
    She, at least, understands how to work the thing as she fumbles for her contact information.
    One exchange of numbers later...
    "Ah... I see..."
    Something says that Fate isn't very good at this, either.

Tori Morte has posed:
    Mission objective achieved! Operation Befriend Fate-chan is proceeding according to plan!

    Tori smiles warmly at Fate. "Well... I promised Sayo I'd read more of The Prince of the Other World with her, so I should probably head back to the dorms. It was nice meeting you, Fate-chan! We'll text later, okay?" she says, as she stands up and gathers her things, slinging a large satchel over one shoulder.

    She raises a hand as she begins to leave. "Ciao~" she chirps.

Fate Testarossa has posed:
    And just like that things are settled. They'll figure out a hangout plan sometime later. For now it looks like Tori is gearing up to go.
    "Ah." She should probably get going herself.
    "Arf." Fate prompts, causing the red 'dog' pup to sit up on her hind legs and lift a paw 'goodbye'.
    "... Goodbye." Fate herself adds, rising from her seat to leave as well. "Thank you for the ice cream."

Tori Morte has posed:
    Once around the corner, Tori and Sayo share a high five.

    A few passers-by look at Tori weird. Tori does not care.