53/Tea of Doom

Tea of Doom
Date of Scene:	08 June 2015
Location:	Uminari City - Midori-Ya Cafe
Synopsis:	Hannah, Junpei, and Matsuo discuss Totally Not Magic Matters. Also Tea of Doom	!
Cast of Characters:	Yuko Minami, Hannah Sharpe, Junpei Matsuo

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Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Another morning at the Midori-Ya! Hannah has taken up her usual table, clad in her school uniform. There's a laptop with braille keys on the table, one ear covered by an earbud. She occasionally taps around on it, finishing up a project! Some sort of accounting class by the looks of things. Sipping some coffee, she's in full on work mode.

But Boris is a lot more attentive, especially after the dog-napping incident. The two are even closer than usual. It likely took an act of congress for Yuko's fellow workers to convince her to leave Boris outside the grocery last night!

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei had started making it a habit of stopping by Midori-Ya before school. Why? Well a few reasons ranging from pleasant atmosphere, good company, but mostly because they actually made the sort of tea he has started to depend on. Black, heady, probably liver destroying at some point, but at this point he just grabbed his scones, giant sized glass, and picked a seat near Hannah. Oddly enough his usual long coat was missing and he was carrying around a comicly oversized backpack. Why? Hard to say really, and the amount of caffeine going through him made it hard to tell if he was tired or not.

Gingerly he reached down to lightly scritch Boris's head. "Glad to see you're doing well."

Yuko Minami has posed:
Another day, another delivery! Arriving at Midori-ya in her usual school uniform plus work vest ensemble, Yuko's handcart today is... Surprisingly enough, nowhere to be seen. Instead, she's just got a gigantic backpack on her today to avoid the hassle of having to wheel the cart back after the delivery.

     Spotting Hannah, Boris, and Junpei, she trudges over to their table and waves lightly to the latter two. "Mooorning. How's everyone feeling today?" Her gaze shifts among the three rapidly, sounding half-concerned and half-exhausted. Sure, it's only the morning, but being enthusiastic in the morning is hard.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Woof goes the Boris! And a leg-thump at the scritch! It takes her a moment, but she finally 'looks' up after Junpei and Yuko speak!

"Oh! Good morning!" She takes a moment. "Is that Matsuo-kun and Yuko-san?" Then she's grinning.

"/You/, Yuko-san, sound exhausted. Have you been staying up too late?" There's an almost big-sisterly tone here! Concern and a little teasing1

Boris wags his tail at Yuko!

"And Boris and I are fine, now. No harm was done by those..." Grrrrr! She scowls.

"/Gentlemen/ that took him." Seems she's still very, very salty about the whole incident.

Then a wave to her laptop. "Though thanks to that I am now behind on my project." Huff!

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei looked up and quirked an eyebrow before offering Hannah his tea. "You sound like you need this more than me," yea the stuff was black enough one couldn't see through it and if Yuki had seen him order it she would have seen employees triple check to see if he knew what he was asking. Drinking this unprepared might Do Things to you.

Even so he smiled both to Hannah and Yuko, "Sorry I missed you the other day. I'd actually intended on talking to you about your.. ah ....new recruits before I accidentally stepped in on some kind of drama thing." Headshake and muttered something most would miss. Boris might catch, in English, curses about a 'Dark Lord' something or other. Then he shrugged, "Roadie is going to take work whipping into shape, but I'll show him what clean living will do to improve his life yet!"

Yuko Minami has posed:
Yuko flinches just a bit at that almost-scolding, avoiding eye contact with Hannah even though that probably wouldn't make much of a difference. "N-no. I just slept at the usual... After midnight."

Technically not a lie, at least.

Reaching over to pet Boris behind the ear lightly, she peers at the laptop curiously. It doesn't take long for her eyes to glaze over at all the NUMBERS, and she straightens back up with a blank look on her face. "Looks... Complicated. But you'll do fine, Hannah-san."

She flashes the white-haired girl a reassuring (but still tired) grin, then turns to Junpei with a raised eyebrow. "Roadie? Oh... Wait. You mean that guy's actually following you around now?" Her eyes actually light up a bit at that, although the fire is gone almost as quickly as it started upon readjusting the hold on her backpack. "Ah, he's in good hands. Although if you want him doing community service or something to repent, I could put him to work at the store for a while."

Clearly not a ploy to get someone else to do her job. Not at all.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah actually sighs, taking the offered tea, and downing it all in one gulp. Give it about ten seconds.

"I am still have convinced some of them need some time in juvie." Frown!

"But I am going on your word. Some of them actually have some potential in the club, to be fair."

To Yuko, she laughs. "Well try to get more sleep! You will go from adorable to an old hag if you do not get your beauty re..." Hurk! The tea hits her, and she's shaking a bit.

There's concerned looks, but she waves it off. Literally vibrating in her seat. Woops.

"A...warn me next time, Junpei-san." jitter jitter jitter!

"Any recommendations on them? I like the community service idea!"

"Accounting is not hard, just a lot of work. Mmm, drama thing?"

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei laughed soft, "I might hand him over once I'm sure I can trust him. For now it's simple drilling the basics through his head." That and after seeing how Hannah had acted before even if it was understandable he didn't trust any of his friends to try helping the guy up instead of just constantly kicking him down.

Sudden tea reaction. Junpei looked.... Concerned. "Oh.. Dear I thought you'd start with a drink." Oh god not the whole thing?! "Just.... Just pick a point and focus on it. Your body will adjust but. The whole thing?" Sudden nervousness. As in not joking. Serious look on his face as he tried flagging staff over. So it took him a few moments to realize he had been asked something. Keep her talking. Yes do that! "Ah some creep apparently attacked one of the dancers. Never broke character either. Someone else cranked the fog machine to full to try keeping him from seeing where that girl went." OK he wasn't good at lying, but it was close enough! "Ended up getting my coat shredded and jerkface ran off. Even with the other performers helping best I can say is I don't think the girl got too hurt." He was leaving out a lot, but why worry friends?

Yuko Minami has posed:
Is it safe for Hannah to drink that much tea at once? Or Junpei, even? Yuko looks rather concerned for about five seconds before coming to the realization that they've probably drank much worse before, especialy after recalling the spicy coffee incident.

"How am I supposed to keep with everything if I sleep early, though?" There's a bit of an embarrassed grin on her face at being called adorable, although she tries not to let it show on her face too much.

"Mm... Wonder what'd happen if you mixed that with the coffee." There's a mischievous look in her eyes as she suggests that.

The news of the strange attack draws her attention. "Fog.. Machine?" Was it Ami? It'd certainly make sense, but considering how much weird stuff had been going on lately, it could have been anyone. "Huh. You okay now, though?"

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Jitter jitter jitter! Suddenly purple has a /smell/! It's weird. Even Boris looks a little worried.

"F..fine! I will be fine!" Her voice is shaking here.

"Creep? Eh? What did he look like? I like listening to dramas like that! Yeeesh, getting the audience involved? How brutish! What were the actors like?" Sounds suspiciously like magical girl activity. Time to probe for info!

A shake of the head.

"It sounds like you have far too much on your plate, Yuko-san. You need to recruit some minions!" Or some under-paid interns. Do grocery stores do internships?

"I can show you how! All you have to do is find some delinquent, beat them up, then feed them and hang out!" Hannah sure can be shadey sometimes.

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei took a deep breath. Talking would give Hannah something to focus on. Still, yuko had proposed something that was.... Wrong, "You dilute the tea for one, and for another Coffee and tea do not go well. Two strong flavors that clash instead of work together. I guess it /could/ be done." He sounded skeptical, very skeptical. "However I won't try it."

"As for the folk that chased creep and his lacky off?" Junpei frowned, "Guess they were from other practice sessions and heard screaming. No ryme or reason. Do have to thank the blue haired girl working the fog machine. Creep ended up hitting me in the gut to try getting us to back off. Kinda glad it wasn't my head."

Yuko Minami has posed:
"If you're sure..." Yuko laughs lightly and rubs her neck, the notion of having minions not being too offputting to her. What she'd give to not have to work, but still get paid for it...

"I'm pretty much an under-paid intern already, anyway. But if I could rope someone into working for free... I mean, it IS job experience, so." She sighs softly. A girl can dream, can't she?

The mention of a blue-haired girl all but confirms her suspicions, and she hums briefly to herself while considering her options. Junpei's seen a lot of weird stuff, but he hasn't transformed yet. Hannah... Probably not. She hadn't mentioned seeing anything particularly weird aside from the gas leak at her school, so she probably wasn't related to any of these incidents, either.

Looking from Hannah to Junpei, the concerned look does come back to her after the mention of diluting the drink. She hurries to the counter without a word to drop off today's delivery, exchanging a few words with the person at the counter before returning with a pitcher of water and a few empty glasses. "Water! I... Don't know if it'll have the same effect as diluting it before drinking, but this might help."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah shakes her head at the explaination. Frown! He just attacked them seemingly for no reason? At least she tries to make a point of having a purpose for these kinds of things! Still, it only confirms that she needs to get stronger if other dark elements are moving.

"Well, I suppose you find idiots everywhere. I am glad everyone is okay."

Water from Yuko! She gulps it down, and after a moment, looks a little better. Still shakey though.

"Ah...I should probably see a doctor. Heh Eh heh heh heh." She stands up, porting away her laptop. Boris whines a little.

"See you two! Come to my next match, alright?" She encourages before Boris leads her off! Time to get Evil Magic Medicine!

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei nodded to Yuko's attempt at water. "Good thinking." He didn't know if it would do anything or not, but worth trying? As Hannah got up he gulped, "You should be alright, but yes getting looked at wouldn't be a bad idea.... Sorry."

He looked to Yuko and sighed, "First that thing at the concert, Hannah's open practice session, the thing with the bank.... Now this?" His head shook slowly, "life is getting weird."

Yuko Minami has posed:
"Yeah... Important thing is nobody got hurt too badly. There's been lots of weird stuff happening lately." Yuko still sounds a little troubled as she says that, although she does give Boris another pat as Hannah gets ready to leave.

"Getting a checkup can't hurt. Just be careful, okay? I wanna see you at your best in that match!" The green-haired girl offers her a reassuring smile, then turns to Junpei once she leaves.

"It's... Been a weird few weeks, yeah. You think there's sometihng going on with all this?" Finally taking a seat herself, Yuko pours some water for herself and Junpei before downing the glass all at once. "Like a... I dunno. Moon stuff going on? I heard there's something going on with that planet Mercury, so maybe that's got something to do with it?"

.... Wait. Mercury. Thaaat's what she was referring to. Yuko slouches just a bit upon that realization, but says nothing further on that topic.

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei gave Yuko a small nod once he sees that Hannah has safely left. The woman has enough on her plate as is. "Never given much thought to astrology, but Mercury figures prominent in things I'd wager." And how he hated how this supposed 'senshi of knowledge' gave basically next to nothing for him to work with. There was a moment where his tiredness cut through the caffeine, showing just how worn down he was starting to get. "I could tell you things, but even with me there it all is crazy talk." Instead he fished out his phone and showed Yuko a picture of a porcupine ballerina themed youma. Then another of a hazey blurry guy just behind the very clear ballerina and just in front of a hole opening into nothing. "If it wasn't for this I'd think I hallucinated. If it wasn't for the bruises Miss White left and my broken drumsticks I'd think I imagined that too." There was a seriousness to his tone even as he huddled close, trying to keep his conversation from being overheard. "I feel like I'm getting pulled into something huge and terrible, but barring the idea I'm crazy. I'm one of the few people that cannot or maybe just won't walk away and I'm worried I just am going to get these people hurt."

Yuko Minami has posed:
"Crazy talk...? Well, if you're sure it's not a..." Yuko trails off as she peers at Junpei's pictures, a long hum escaping her as she furrows her brow in thought. Oh, if only he knew what he was getting into.

She can't just up and say that, of course, but this had to mean there was something going on even with him. How else could get this close to so many strange occurrences at once? It was just too much of a coincidence. "Miss... White? Is that what the porcupine's called?

Still, it's probably better for her to feign ignorance for now. At least until she can confirm how much he knows. She chuckles lightly and pats Junpei's shoulder, pouring some more water for herself with her free hand and chugging it in one go.

"Just... Be careful, okay? Whatever's going on, it looks like it's being handled by someone, at least. Might as well let them deal with it instead of getting yourself hurt, you know?"

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei took a deep breath as he put his phone away. Why did Hannah have to take all of his tea? "Maybe, but someone has to try getting people out of the way. Since I seem to keep stumbling into these things, like or not, I suppose that someone's me." He took a bite of his scone and frowned before ordering fresh tea, double strength. Yes double. I'm paying you folk. Do it. Then as staff scrambled, and placed bets on if Junpei could actually survive, he gave Yuki a level look. "I'm not looking for these things, believe it or not. They just happen, and I'm one of the few people that wake up before it's over. So who knows how much I've slept through."

Then his tea was brought. There was an aura of ominousness to it as Junpei downed the whole glass. Give it a minute.

Yuko Minami has posed:
"Fair enough. But... Still. Try not to get too in over your head." Slouching back in her seat, Yuko lets her head lull from side to side and winces as it cricks loudly on one side. She raises an eyebrow at his new order of tea, giving a concerned glance to him and to the staff that would actually have to make that thing.

"If there's already other people taking care of those situations, then... It might not be a bad idea to let them handle it. One less person for them to worry about, you know?" She chuckles weakly while watching him drink that... Substance, pouring two more glasses of water hastily just in case he needs them afterwards. "Discretion's the better part of valor or however that saying goes. And escort missions usually suck, anyway."

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei sat there after setting the now empty glass down. He frowned at the glass and quirked an eyebrow before sighing softly, "I only get involved as much as I have to and usually try staying out of the way." He seemed to perk up while looking at Yuko. "Doesn't always work, but trying to split the difference between making work and helping. After all if I hadn't pulled the fire alarm odds are good dark, spooky, and melodramatic would have just left with his prize." He gave Yuko an appraising look and offered a scone. Wait. No pinprick eyes? No shaking? Nope! His hands were rock steady and his eyes clear. "I left a few this around town and so far no takers that aren't likely from the depths of the internet." That.... Was probably exactly why these girls didn't advertise. That and the whole friends and family in danger bit. Assuming they /had/ lives anyway. "But it'll work out. I'm more annoyed about my coat than anything. Grandad got that for me."

Yuko Minami has posed:
"True, true... At least give me a call next time, then. I can... Probably help out or something." Yuko laughs lightly and gives Junpei another pat on the shoulder, eyeing the scone curiously before taking it. As if on cue, her stomach rumbles a little too loudly.

"... Didn't have breakfast yet." She clears her throat and takes a big bite out of it. "Mmrph... Yeah, I wouldn't trust any takers that are only online. Probably just trolls or something." She'd already had the notion of keeping her identity a secret hammered into her head enough by Blue and that other fairy doll... Thing. If it wasn't for that... Well, it'd probably be inconvenient to have her identity known if anyone wanted to come after her for collateral damage.

Definitely better to keep it a secret. She frowns slightly when Junpei mentions the source of his coat, but quickly shifts into yet another reassuring smile. Just how did he manage to not explode from drinking that stuff, anyway? "Ah... W-well, you still have the memory, right? Most people wouldn't even think about jumping headfirst into stuff like that, so maybe... It could be like a badge of honor type of thing?"

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei nodded thoughtfully. The gears and wheels in his head were turning, but he had nothing close to proof. Why would Yuko, self professed lazeabout, be willing to dive head long into these situations? "It'll get patched up and I can stop lugging this thing around." Junpei patted his backpack lightly. "I mean sure Roadie can do some of the work, but right noe I've got him doing drudgework for taiko group til Grandad can come down for a long sitdown. Figure he'll have a better chance of reaching him." Then as he finished his scone he looked to the grocery girl, "so anything not weird going on? New movies, games, anything?"

Yuko Minami has posed:
"That's good. Actually took me a bit to recognize you without the.."

Don't say musical hobo. Don't say musical hobo.

"... Musical hobo look." Dammit.

"N-not that that's a bad thing or anything! It fits you well." Yuko's trying to make a save, at least. "You're going to have your grandfather talk to this guy? Huh... Is that gonna be safe? I mean... With what he was doing before and all."

Finishing off her own scone shortly after Junpei finishes his, she shakes her head lightly while resting a hand on the table idly.

"Nah, it's been kinda quiet for me. Same school, same work, nothing on sale, no new series worth following... Even the new stuff isn't really making me want to camp out for the release." She pauses for a moment while staring at the water, then turns to Junpei with a serious look in her eyes.

"Am I getting old?"

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Yuko Old? PFFFFFFT!

Junpei waved a hand dismissively even as he grinned. "Well everyone has a look. You're not the first to say the wandering musician thing works." There was an easiness to his voice as he relaxed. "And the only one who I'm worried about when grandad cones over is Roadie." He would not give the kid back his name until he earned it, and he hasn't come close. "Guy survived Burma, survived the Occupation. Ran his own dojo for awhile when they were allowed to reopen. Only recently stopped working at a hardware store. He might be a little slower than in his day, but he's not going to let anyone run over him." Grandma could, but he seemed to take that with good cheer. They will be together again soon. Not too soon, but soon.

Yuko Minami has posed:
... Oh hell, she IS old, isn't she? Yuko doesn't look all that reassured by the wave, taking particular note of Junpei's lack of a verbal response to that last bit. Despite looking somewhat discouraged by that, though, she doesn't say anything else about that particular topic.

"He did? Whoa... Sounds strong. He should definitely be able to whip this guy into shape, then. " She ponders that for a short while before giggling to herself, trying to keep her mind off her own IMPENDING. YEARLY. DECAY.

"He's... Still living somewhere else, though, right? He's not... Like. Camping out in front of your place or anything like that?" That would just be weird.

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
"Kid goes home, does his own stuff. I just make sure to drop by, hang out. Get him from sinking in too far with the bad elements of his old circles." The confrontation with hothead claiming all manner of loud and outlandish connections was fun to stare down. Sure it didn't help Junpei's reputation to stare down gang leaders but compared to some of the stuff he's seen? It made him laugh. "Yuko-san, we're not even grown how can either of us, especially you, be getting old?" The response was delayed, did that mean he had to think it over?" Junpei sat back, resting his hand on his backpack. "We're just going through a dry spell, and you're wanting your money to go to what is really good instead of just what's there. It's like what happened with me and music. Suddenly didn't have time or money for everything so had to be selective."

Yuko Minami has posed:
"That's good, then. Would be... Reeeally creepy if he just hung around all the time." It made sense, at least. Yuko hadn't noticed anyone lurking around in the coffee shop, and Junpei probably would have pointed the guy out if he was around.

The reassurance about her age does help the green-haired girl perk up a bit, at least! "I guess. Mm.. Still, it's like the more I work to get money, the less time I have to actually enjoy it." She slouches back in her seat again and lets her head hang off the back of the chair, even letting chair tilt back a bit while staring at the ceiling. "But... Maybe I'll get lucky and find a better job. Then it's just... Thirty, forty years of that until I can retire. Bleh."

Lingering on this train of thought isn't helping any. Letting her seat drop back onto four legs again, she suddenly gives Junpei an inquisitive stare. "What about you? Have any interesting stuff going on other than that weird stuff? Mm.. Oh! How'd that free show go?"

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
"Actually," Junpei grinned broadly at the question of normal doings. "We won. They're too polite to broadcast it over everything, and even gave those poor guys that just floundered free lessons since there was this big gap between them and everyone else but...." He smiled, happy at his achievement. "We won overall, and a few of the contests. So enough money to put away for later. Plus merch sold well, even with them taking most of the profit I have a bit of spending money now. Enough to get my coat redone and a few odds and ends for the sake of comfort." He wasn't going to go into his ever expanding music library and band merch. "Even with the oddness going on I feel good about things. Want me to walk partway with you," he paused, grinning as he let his tone suggest it was in good nature, "or would you rather not be seen with a ruffian like me?"

Yuko Minami has posed:
"Really? Huh... Sorry I couldn't make it." Bowing her head briefly in apology, Yuko knocks back another glass of water before pouring even more. Doing deliveries is hard work, after all, and keeping hydrated is important!

"Still, congratulations. Saving's boring, but it never hurts to have some extra cash hidden away in case something comes up." Nodding lightly at the wisdom of Junpei's choice, the green-haired girl looks a little surprised at the offer.

"Huh? Um. Sure, if you want. I don't mind." It's quite a stark departure from how wary she had been in their initial meetings, although she may also seem more tired than she did in those past days as well. Perhaps it's from school being back in session after that first week. Her backpack was in place, she had plenty of water, and she was ready to go!

Junpei Matsuo has posed:
Matsuo Junpei hefted his backpack as he stood. For him the renewed energy was due to enough caffeine to wake a rhino from a coma. "I will have to give you a thumbdrive of our music when you finish deliveries." There was a lightness to his voice as he started for the door. "And I thank my dad for drumming the importance of breaking the 'spend like no tomorrow' stereotype of rockers. It's come in handy already."