998/Even Nerds Need Food

Even Nerds Need Food
Date of Scene:	12 January 2024
Location:	Cafeteria Plaza
Synopsis:	Usagi finds Ami having lunch in the cafeteria. They catch up from the holidays, theories are shared, and plan a shopping trip to help Ami pick out belated New Years Gifts for their friends.
Cast of Characters:	Ami Mizuno, Usagi Tsukino

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Ami Mizuno has posed:
Even with Winter break in full effect there was enough going on at the dorms lately that it had made life rather interesting, in the Chinese curse sort of way. Ami had left the dorms for a few days to let the smoke air out, as well as get the 'all clear' that everything was fine from the explosion that had rocked at least one dorm room on her floor.

Back now, and feeling a bit hungry after spending a good chunk of the day in the library, she's made her way to the cafeteria. A tray filled with some healthy, filling options is set in front of her where she'd chosen to sit at the end of a table by herself. One hand is raised to keep the manga she was currently reading for leisure up and open while she eats.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi was still settling back into school life, and honestly? She's been exhausted. The takeout from Khorma had been the perfect pick me up yesterday, but today, she didn't think she could go nearly that far. She was just so - tired.

Stupid nightmares.

She'd filled a tray with chicken katsu sucked in kimchi butter (a new offering to be sure), rice, macaroni salad, fruit salad, and even grabbed a whipped cream sandwich for dessert, planning to stuff herself like a chipmunk and hibernate for the rest of the day.... and then she'd seen Ami.

Which lead to this moment, right now -

"Ami-chan! How are you? Whatcha reading?"

Where Usagi sets her tray down with a thud and drops herself down in the seat opposite Ami.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno gives a little jump in her seat at the thump of the tray impacting the table. Her gaze does tear away from the book toward Usagi though, and a warm smile spreads easily over her face at the sight of her friend. "Oh, just a manga I had recommended to me. Technically it's a manwha," she corrects, "That was translated from Korean to Japanese. I should probably brush up on my Korean but I'm just reading this for leisure."

Still she hasn't said what it IS, and she clears her throat lightly while turning it so that Usagi can read the title. Her eyes skip away to the side as she blushes not wanting to say it out loud. The title is 'My Happy Marriage' and shows a couple in kimono clasping hands on the front. A brown haired girl, and a man with long white hair pulled into a ponytail.

"Meiou-sensei pointed out that I'm ahead enough with my school work that I ought to allow myself to actually use some of the Winter break for a break. I'm trying to work on that a bit. Oh, and I'm fine," she thinks to add a bit belatedly. "How about you, Usagi-chan? How are you doing with everything?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
The tray of food - delicious and hot and perfect for lulling herself back to sleep - is calling to Usagi, but the lure of gossip calls even loudeer. Usagi sits up as Ami talks around the title of the manga - manwha - and only interjects the once.

"Wait, Ami-chan you know Korean too? Even though you're also good at English?!" Is that even legal? Is that even fair? To be good at that many languages?!

It probably is, Ami wouldn't break the law, but - but - but -

"Oh!!! That looks so cute, it's a romance, right? I didn't know you liked romances too! You should have told me, I'd have recommended tons of them!" Her eyes are a bit starry as she says this.

A little hum - "Honestly, just sleeping. My mama and papa gave me money for takeout, yesterday, because they heard about the explosion and I wouldn't move back home, so I went out, but today's just been sleeping."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno fidgets just a little in her seat as she sets the manga back down, carefully noting what page she was on before doing so. It allows her to focus on the friend in front of her as well as her food which was perhaps a little colder by now for sitting as she read. Chopsticks are picked up to begin sectioning peices out for quick eating.

"Usually I don't read manga, but..." For just a moment the bluenette trails off getting a thoughtful, wistful look. "I think love would be a rather nice thing to share with someone."

Rather than dwell on the topic she gives a nod at the mention of knowing Korean. "Oh, Korean's rather easy honestly. It's a very logically based system of writing so it's easy to pick up. The grammer isn't very dissimilar from Japanese either, so it's far easier than English or German." Had she mentioned knowing that one too? Maybe.

"I'm glad that your parents are looking out for you. They must have been very worried." For a moment she pauses again. "I was thinking. I've spoken to the outer scouts lately. I think they feel a bit lonely and distant from us because of our pasts. Maybe it would be nice to do something with all of us together, so we can get to know one another more?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"It is! Love is just - it's totally wonderful -" oh it's only then that Usagi thinks about what Ami just said and has a face visibly like 'oh no, was that insensitive?! Was that too much?! "I'm sure you'll be able to find love. You're really cute and kind and super smart, and those are all wonderful things!"

She is so, so, so confident that her good, wonderful, amazing friend will find love! She will!

"You speak German too?!?! The only thing I speak is Japanese! And Lunarian. And High Lunarian. And - okay, Serenity speaks a lot of things, but I'm barely passing English, that's amazing!"

She's not at all ashamed to be barely passign English, because miracle of miracles, she's passing.

"...yeah, they were really worried," Usagi says with a sigh, "But I'm fine! And they're the ones who made me live on campus, so it's no fair to demand I just come back now... oh? You've been hanging out with Suna-san and Haruka-san and Michiru-san?"

Her eyes brighten, and then the sentiment registers and she - winces. "I can believe that. Our - your - duties were so different back then, and now... we've had our share of complications, but we're all Senshi, and we should all be friends... doing something together would be really nice."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno doesn't seem offended at least. The reassurance from Usagi causes her eyes to soften as she smiles again so at least she could assure her friend in that manner that she was all right. "Some time," she agrees with a small nod. "It's also really great to have so many precious friends too, for now."

"I speak several of the major world languages. I don't alwas get to practice them though. Hannah-chan, my roommate, also speaks German so I've had the chance to brush up lately." A quick bite of food is taken, barely registering what it was as she gulps it down quickly. Her drink is reached for to open up the little strawberry milk container for a sip to wash it down.

"Oh yes, I helped Meiou-sensei set up the Gates for the boys before we rescued them. I've since met Michiru-san and Haruka-san. They're very nice and have extended an invitation to visit them any time at their place. I also," she adds while reaching up to let her fingers rake through just the ends of her shoulder length hair. "Went there the first night after the dorm explosion. I thought it would be safer than going home alone."

Growing more serious she nods emphatically in agreement. "Exactly right. We're not in the same era, nor are we bound by the same limitations of distance or duties as we may have been 'back then.' I'm not really good at parties or planning such things though. You're far better at that than I am."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"I don't know how you can do that," Usagi says, and her eyes are practically swirls of can't imagine can't imagine, "Keeping all those languages together... that's amazing... I did know Hannah-chan spoke German because she's some kind of... Space German...?" How does that work, honestly? She has no idea.

"Oh good! You've gotten to spend a lot of time with them. That's good! I... we had a bit of a bad experience, as me and them as a group, a while back, and I think things are better, but I don't know how much of that is because I'm the Princess. And I don't... want to order them to do things, but I do have a lot of power, apparently, which is kind of crazy, because I'm just Usagi, but... a party would be good. And I think us all just - hanging out together... that would be good."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Space German. Ami actually seems to light up at mention of that with a look of avid interest. "Actually I've a few theories on that. It seems quite a few from other planets or worlds can speak various versions of Earth languages. It stands to reason that it's possible their people visited Earth long, long ago, and their languages influenced the development of ours in various areas..." Realizing she was starting to prattle she stops abruptly looking embarassed. This is the very sort of thing that got her ostracised at her last school. While she doubted Usagi would do that to her, she was still trying to change and be a bit more socially aware. This wasn't really the situation to get into such discussions. Was it?

"Ah, I don't have proof of course, it's just a theory," she mumbles out looking a bit embarassed.

"Mm. Yes, I've spent quite a bit of time with them over the holidays, actually. Meiou-sensei was nice enough to give me a Christmas gift, so I brought her some teas for New Years. Oh, I still have to give everyone else some gifts too." Looking a bit lost, perhaps hopeful, she asks, "Could you help me shop for some, Usagi-chan? I've never really gotten gifts for people before. Other than teachers."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Wait, don't stop, what's your theory? Come on, you wouldn't make up a theory on nothing, so there's something, right? I didn't know any of the others spoke an Earth language - I thought it was all Space German or Japanese!" Aaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, you looked all excited and interested! Even if Usagi weren't interested (which she is, kinda!) she would want her to keep going, just so she could see her share!

"Theories are what you use to piece things together, so if it's a theory you have, you must have been thinking about it a lot, right?"

Don't be so bashful! "And yes! I would be happy too! Did she give you a plushie too? She gave me and Mamochan plushies of each other, they're so cute... I'd be happy to! I love shopping! Especially for other people! Are you thinking of getting things for all your friends? I went with plushies for just about everyone, but that's because they're like a little buddy for your bag..."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Well," Ami begins again hesitantly. "I'd like a larger sample size to begin really formulating a solid theory. So far as you say we only have German and Japanese as a reference point. If I could speak to more of the off-world mahou and find out what they think however it would give me a better idea of how things perhaps worked out." She pauses to add, "I'd also like to see if we can find any records of past visitations in our own respective planets, perhaps. I know the timeline was changed via magic, but that doesn't mean there weren't similar situations perhaps. A point of reference."

Her finger taps lightly against the table as if she were really itching to just start typing on a computer. Not here though, not in the cafeteria. Instead it gets her mind back on the newer topic she brought up. "Oh yes, she did! It's... it's really cute. She said she gave plushies to the couples of their significant others. So you got Mamoru, and Haruka and Michiru got one of each other as well."

Ami smiles again feeling a happy sort of warmth fill her as the talk of plushies and buddies comes up. "I really did enjoy the gift from you as well Usagi. Thank you. And yes, I'd like to get something for everyone. I rarely use my allowance other than on school supplies or food, so I have a decent bit saved up to get something nice. I was thinking... Maybe hair clips for everyone? Something different for us all."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Oh, oh, you should definitely talk to Naru-chan about that! She's keeping track of all the aliens we keep meeting and you could talk to Adora, she's Mako-chan's roommate if you haven't heard, she's an alien, and - oh! Oh! Ami, is there a princess of Europe?" The phrase sprinkles back to her mind, rising up from the cloud as she considers aliens. "Because if not, she's an alien too."

Hmm, hmm, because that would make sense in retrospect...

"And the past was changed - life restarted, but maybe something was left over and some of the languages survived...?" Were they even around then?

"Oh, that's such a cute thing then! I thought maybe she might do something like that... Oh, Haruka and Michiru?" she ponders. "I should have known! Maybe I did know...? But... that's really sweet. It was so nice of her to make us all plushies in the first place, it was really sweet!"

She genuinely appreciates it, so much. "I'm glad - I tried to pick a little friend everyone would really like, and I know anything you come up with will be really nice too. Like - oh! Like that, hairclips are a great idea!"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno's eyes light up when Usagi seems to get the gist of it. "Exactly. Even though things were restarted there may have been remnants that helped to form life on Earth as it is now. Precisely my thought! Though perhaps we could also speak to Mamoru-kun about that if he remembers anything from back then. Or from some of his ah, his men?" She hesitates there, faltering just a bit. "I've met Jadeite since then but none of the others." Hm. Something to think about. Nodding firmly she agrees, "I'll speak with Naru-chan as well. It sounds as if she's been doing some excellent record keeping."

The praise at thinking of hairclips earns another smile from her as she seems quite relieved to hear that. They would be useful as well! Something she also tried to keep in mind for gifts. "That's settled then. We can go pick out some hairclips that would suit everyone. Is any day in particular good for you to go do that? It would be nice to go shopping with someone for once."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Mamochan remembers a lot more than I do, and I do remember a lot, it's just all kind of fuzzier when I'm not - her. So I bet he could definitely help! And... I'd guess Nephrite is the friendliest, if you want to talk to one of them..."

She does not wrinkle her nose in distaste at the mention of Jadeite, which she thinks is pretty big of her, all things said! She's being so brave about Fire Eyes-ite! "Naru-chan's great at that kind of thing; she's the one who first started trying to get all the info she could on all this magic stuff, because she's like catnip for monsters."

Something Usagi clearly feels aggrieved about.

"Oh, oh, this weekend would be good! I don't have any plans at all."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"It's fuzzy for me too," Ami admits quietly. "Like a dream I can't quite remember. I keep getting these feelings of familiarity though. Deja vu in a way, I suppose. Like I've done this before or something similar."

A long pause comes from Ami, and she glances aside breifly. "I'm rather curious about the third one actually. Zoisite. I feel like he's very familiar to me, somehow. O-or maybe he just has that sort of face that looks familiar... But Mamoru-kun said he would introduce me to him sometime." Smiling again she adds, "I suppose I'll find out then one way or another."

A talk for another time though. Thoughts for another time. She hadn't even met him yet, only seen him in passing. "This weekend then, excellent. Thank you, Usagi-chan. I really appreciate the help." Of course she would have to try and sneakily purchase Usagi's own gift when she wasn't looking, but she was sure she could manage to find a way to do that.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"We have, haven't we? Maybe not... exactly the same," Usagi says haltingly, "Because I definitely didn't get to just go to middle school back then - none of us did. We were... different, with different lives then. None of us got to do just, normal things."

And now they do. They go to do normal things. And then -

Well, and then Ami glances aside as she mentions Zoisite and Usagi wonders if she's nervous about him - he was pretty scary in their two fights - but figures... "I think Mamochan would like that. He really wants them to make more friends, meet people, you know? You'd be a good person for them to get to know..."

And then she giggles, and flaps a hand. "Yes! It's going to be super fun - a nice shopping trip, just for us, you know?"