In Coffee City, We Borrowed Heaven

[sesenta]

WHO: Akane Kurashiki, OPEN
WHAT: Working hard at the lab, Akane decides to treat her fellow coworkers to coffee, and makes a stop at the Cuppa Kupo to load up on caffeine addiction beverages for all.
WHEN: January 10th
WHERE: Cuppa Kupo / Palitutu's Laboratory


Akane knew better than to stay at the lab too late. If she was foolish enough to short herself on sleep, her productivity dropped, and Jade might make fun of her. After all of the kindness he'd shown to Akane, the last thing she wanted to do was let him down or let him make fun of her. That meant working no more than an hour of overtime, and taking an actual lunch break to eat a legitimate meal.

As she couldn't prepare much more than sandwiches, that was what she usually brought. Today, however, after so many days of solid snow, she was in the mood for something warm and comforting, and excused herself to slip away to the cafe. Once she'd trekked there through the mounds of snow, only falling twice on the icy sidewalks (which was a huge success for her!), she arrived smiling and pink-cheeked at the cafe. She loved the way the warm air bathed her chilly face, just as inviting as the smells of rich stews and freshly baked bread. She ordered a hearty tomato bisque and a grilled cheese sandwich, with a cup of hot chocolate for sipping.

It was very relaxing.

As she neared the end of her meal, she found herself gazing pensively out the window more and more often, just watching people stroll by and go about their lives. No one was panicking, or sobbing, or crying. Did they really believe so strongly in the Heroes of Light to save them in spite of all that happened? Or was the human spirit truly so invincible? ...And Moogle spirit, and Hypello spirit, and...

Well, to put it succinctly, it made her feel a little better. In spite of all of her mistakes, and the kind of person she was, people were still kind to her. They were very kind to her. Maybe she could do something kind in return for them. And since Pyukachu was responsible for the miserable state of coffee in the lab...

Wiping the crumbs from her fingers, she carried her tray to the counter before rushing back to stand in line. "Sixteen cups of your best coffee to go, please!" she beamed, slapping her gil down on the countertop. She'd have to summon Keys Kupo to help her carry it all, but with four drinks in each carrier, and one carrier for each hand, it would work!

[OOC: Feel free to join her for lunch, or walk her to the lab, or be at the lab for free coffee gifts.]

Comments

[sesenta]

"I don't think anyone would mind that at all," Akane said, just a little concerned at his answer. The only choice I have. Coming from a world where people's fates could change drastically based on just one little choice, it didn't sit well with her.

"What about all of those other worlds out there?" she suggested, tilting her head. "If the option to travel is available afterward, I'm sure there are a large number of places where a Teensie could live comfortably."

She would have suggested her world if he didn't wind up being chased by scientists like a certain Extra-Terrestrial she saw in a certain movie with a certain acronym. But worlds like Crystallis, where all kinds of races were accepted without the bat of an eye, surely those existed in the Rift and beyond.

[umslay]

"I don't know much about them. Besides, why intrude on a world no one invited me to if they won't how me around? That goes against all codes of civility." Ellie invited him. She wanted him there. "And it's not like I can go to Lydia's world. Either I stay hidden in her home world or I stay in the realm of the dead. Neither works."

Who else would he like living with? He admired Sephiroth, Jade, and other leader figures, but they weren't friends. "I've already made a name for myself here."

[sesenta]

Civility? Akane chuckled against the back of her hand. "I suppose you have a point. You're more polite than I would be." She would much rather enjoy skipping from world to world and exploring each one in detail, if she could. But there were other, heavier reasons to anchor her to her own world. Crystallis could never truly be her home.

She smiled and nodded her head. "You certainly have. You've seen and influenced so much. I'm a little jealous; I would have liked to have been here from the beginning. Maybe then I'd understand my purpose here more clearly. For now, I'm glad we had a chance to meet. I never get to speak to non-humans in my world. The aliens have yet to introduce themselves formally!"

[umslay]

"I wouldn't say polite. I'm more practical than anything. A total stranger wouldn't help me find a home, so why do that when I have a world of my own here?" His energy temporarily returned, and Ales added an exaggerated shrug.

"It took me years to get to where I was, but that shouldn't come as a surprise to you, considering." That Shadow confrontation. He'd rather not think about the consequences of that. "But it's honestly not that special to speak to hon-humans. It's just another fact of life where I'm from."

No comment on the aliens. They might live too far away from humans in Akane's world for regular contact, but surely the two groups speak to each other already.

[sesenta]

"You'd be surprised. Some strangers can be very kind." But Akane knew all too well that some of them could be just the opposite...selfish, cruel, vicious. Even so, she still wanted to believe the best of people. There was always a chance they could change.

Akane hesitated, her finger tapping lightly against her coffee cup. "Are things really so beyond repair that you can't go back?" she asked, quieting her voice since they weren't exactly alone. "Feeling like you can't ever go home again just seems so...so sad to me."

[umslay]

Ales made a noise in an attempt to immediately answer her question. He sipped at his coffee a few times, but it would not help in delaying the answer long enough for Akane to give up and go home.

"Yes," came the answer after a good amount of silence. "What you heard my shadow say is true. Everyone knows what I did, and they won't let me do as I please if I returned to the Glade. Really, fighting a god everyone else loved can do that to one's reputation."

He turned away. What delicious coffee, yum. Much more interesting to look at than Akane's face, yup.

[sesenta]

Akane nodded slowly, thoughtfully. She imagined it would be much the same with Junpei should they meet again. The things she'd done to him were unforgivable. And yet, she still cared deeply about him. Going back to him just wasn't an option anymore. The bridge was burned for the sake of the planet's future.

"I understand," she finally spoke with a small sigh. "Then, if it's possible, I'd like to come back and visit someday. This world has been very accepting of me too. It's hard not to feel some fondness for it."

It was clear to her, however, that he really wasn't enjoying this conversation. He probably just wanted to drink his coffee in peace and suffering her out of politeness or obligation. She flashed a quick smile and bobbed her head. "Either way, I hope the coffee's good. Thanks for talking to me, Ales."

[umslay]

"Hmph." It was meant as a neutral statement. He would like to be left alone and not have his past mistakes prodded and poked at but the coffee was good. Akane as well, he guessed.

With a nod, he took another sip. "This'll get me through the rest of the day." A glance at the doorway. "Thank you."