Mall

Sam

Good enough. So then when do I start The Great Boss Lady Mareena?

Karl

(Right I forgot to actually say it was +CHA)

Tai

You wait around at the mall entrance until you see a large car pull up.  Alice climbs out, still a bit unsteady on her feet.  She's followed by Nora, both wearing fancy, expensive-looking dresses and high heels.  Next is Mattea, stepping out barefoot in a skimpy, black bikini.


Nora, Tai

Mattea smiles and confidently sashays over to Tai.  "Hey, Tai.  Glad you could join our little celebration.  You'll never guess who's going to be staring in the winter play.  Oh, Nutty's gonna join us at the diner in a bit."  She takes a step back.  "Oh, right. Nora, meet Tai.  Tai, may I present Miss Ursala Norant Owan."


Floyd

You head to the mall for chili supplies.  There aren't many people there when you first arrive, and none you recognize from school.  And then they start trickling in.

Lisa and that really shy girl she hangs out with arrive first.  They make a beeline for the arcade.

Outside, you notice Tai meeting with Alice, Nora, and Bikini-Mattea.  Neat.

Natsumi comes strolling in, takes a look around, then heads to the cafe.

Mareena walks in, humming to herself and swaying as she walks.  She heads upstairs and opens up her shop.

The captain of the wrestling team comes in, pauses at the entrance to stretch for a bit, then makes her way towards a small pharmacy.

Nora gives a pleasant smile. "Just Nora will do. The full name is simply an outdated old English fool's attempt at keeping the family names sounding noble, I'm afraid. Pleasure to meet you."

Floyd

As you sit on the fountain, Natsumi passes by.  She smiles and gives you a wave, then heads into the cafe.

The wrestling captain comes out of the pharmacy with a small bag of what you assume to be medicine.  She pauses to take a seat near the fountain, opens it, and starts rummaging around.  She gives a satisfied smile, then stands up.  She glances your way and seems to notice you for the first time.  "Oh, uh.  Hi."


Nora, Tai

Introductions done, you head into the mall, drawing a lot of attention.  You go straight to the cafe.  "It's nothing fancy, but it's a lovely little family-owned business," Mattea explains to Nora.  "Delicious.  I even work here part-time."

You find Natsumi already inside waiting at a table.  She waves as you enter. "Hello, everyone.  Tai, I-"  She pauses and tilts her head in confusion.  "Why'd you wear a swimsuit to the mall, Mattea?"

"Oh, I'm wearing this because Avalon decided to use the extended version of her favorite play instead of the shorter version most troupes perform."  Mattea smiles warmly.  "Otherwise it would be Alice dressed like this."

"I... don't really follow what that has to do with the bikini, but it looks great on you!" Natsumi says earnestly.  "Your dresses are nice, too."

"Thank you, Natsumi."

"Your dresses are nice, too, but I don't much care for wearing them myself.  And the last time I tried to wear high heels was a disaster..."

Mattea smiles patiently.  "Have you met Nora yet?  She's a transfer student."

"Ah, a new person!  Hello, new person.  I'm Natsumi Tsuki."  She folds her hands and bows politely.  "I hope to see you in the art club."

Alice whispers to Tai while the others talk.  "Do you know what's good?  I haven't eaten here before."

Floyd

"Yeah.  Uh...  So, what's with the, uh... horde?"  Laura points at all the bags.


Nora, Tai

"I see..." Alice says.  "I'll have a vegetable panini, then."

Natsumi reads over the menu for a bit.  "Oh...  Seafood paella?  I don't know what that is, but it sounds amazing..."  She stares intently at the menu nodding to herself.  "Speaking of art club, Nora-person, stop by after art club some day and we'll add you to the class banner.  Oh, right!  That reminds me, Tai-person!  I almost forgot!  I still owe you a private art lesson sometime.  Do you want to try to do it this weekend?"

"Well if you're looking for the quintessential American meal, it would have to be burgers.  That said, I wouldn't recommend it her.  The burgers are OK, but they specialize in Italian.  Well, Americanized Italian.  I've heard it's very different from the authentic stuff.  If you want burgers, I'll take you to the right place for them some other time."  She waves at a little girl that's standing around the counter.  "Hey, Mira!  Can you tell your mom to send out some wedding soup?  We're trying to celebrate!"

"OK, Matty!" the little girl calls back.  The little girl is blonde, and can't be more than 8 or 9 at most, probably a bit younger.  On closer inspection, she has a large, faded burn on one arm.

"So?  Not gonna ask how it went?" Mattea asks Tai.  "I mean I'm gonna tell you anyway.  I... am going to be the star.  And Nora here..." - she wraps her arms around Nora's before continuing - "will be playing the role of my love interest."

Alice casually wipes her mouth.  "Right... and what are Natsumi and I, exactly?  I mentioned before I only have a passing knowledge of this play.  It's about a giant plant that eats people, if I recall... but I don't know who Arthur or this... dentist, was it?"

Mattea gives a shit-eating grin.  "Why, Natsumi is going to be playing the part of the sadistic dentist-turned-murderer who took the job because she loved hurting people, and you, Alice, will be playing the part of the masochistic patient who goes in to his office for appointments as often as possible because she loves the pain."

"Wh...  What?"  Alice's composure drops for a moment.  "What does... what does that have to do with a giant plant!?"

"Oh, I have some history with Natty's character and I think I grab the corpse of the guy she kills or something..."

"Me?  Sadistic...?" Natsumi mutters to herself.  "Um...  OK...?"