i love you baby baby

[hearted]

Who:Aino Minako Waitress Diana and her patrons at Brad's Diner (aka YOU)
What: Serving up milkshakes, greasy sandwiches, and love advice!
When: February 14th, mid-afternoon
Where: Brad's Diner
Warnings: Flirting possible. It's Minako. Otherwise none so far!


Those who have visited local grease shack Brad's Diner in the past may be surprised to see the radically changed decor for today. The booths were already lined in red cushions, but now there are additions of heart balloons, shining ribbons, and red and white candles on each table.

The festive atmosphere hits you right in the face when your server arrives! Her name tag reads 'Di', the I dotted with a heart. But that's usual. More unusually, she's sporting a pink mini-dress and red apron, and there's a long red ribbon laced through her usual braid. She winks at everyone coming through the dtheoor, presenting them each a small chocolate.

"Welcome to Brad's, home of the chocolate strawberry milkshake! Everything's half-price for singles today, and couples all receive a free cake! But if you'd rather flip it around that's fine by me too! It's Valentines, all about showing you some love! I'm Di and I'll be taking care of you today, cuties."

She then bounces to lead her customers to their seats. Even the regular table seats are well cushioned with fluffy pillows, so there's not a bad seat to be had in the house! She's also piled a lot of big balloon decorations between the tables, hopefully making it easy for musicians to go incognitio just as Rei asked. With luck, they can make this a warm and welcoming place for any and all.

[ooc: this is a free for all! Lemme know in the subject line if you want to interact with 'Di', or feel free to just take in the tacky decorations on a diner date of your own.]

Comments

OTA

[maipokerface]

A greasy spoon kitted out in red and pink may be nice and all but it really makes Mai stick out like a sore thumb in all of her red and black goth attire. It's enough to have her pausing by the door a moment to reconsider her heinous decision.

Then she just gives up. It's Valentines and no matter where she goes it's probably going to be more of the same. And damn if she's letting this ruin her chance for a day away from Pride HQ, recording studios and fantastic milkshakes.

So she'll just order up one of those chocolate strawberry milkshakes and hope for the best.

[faithfulflame]

Well, leave it to Mai to stick out a little bit. And to attract Rei's attention. She's similarly dressed, honestly, red and white instead of black though. And a little classier than standard goth, but she's trying a new look today. Just until the evening.

After the little flash performance, she slides into Mai's booth and smiles, ordering a vanilla and cream milkshake. They were friends, after a fashion, and Rei'd never miss a chance to spend time with her...since those times were rare.

"Hey there."

[maipokerface]

When had the pair last talked? After that ill-fated party? Frankly Mai had trouble remembering but then everything before rescuing that ghost was somewhat out of focus. She blamed it on the fear it had indelibly marked her with.

"You out doing performances from the warmth of your heart or something?" Not that flash performances were rare but Mai sure didn't engage in them.

[faithfulflame]

"The owner of the diner is a friend," Rei answers smoothly, drumming her fingers on the table and looking around.

"She works hard to keep this place going, in part so musicians can come without being badgered. I figured drumming up a little business would be nice."

[maipokerface]

The milkshakes arrive in no time and Mai takes a moment to unwrap her straw as she speaks.

"Good on you then. May as well use you music for the common good, I guess."

And now her straw gets plopped straight down into the shake. She pauses a moment after, dabbing the straw in the shake a few times.

"At least they've got thick shakes so I definitely give them a thumbs up."

[faithfulflame]

"Ice cream does thicken them, you know."

Rei laughs softly and starts eating hers with a spoon while it melts a little bit in the heat from the restaurant itself.

"How've you been?"

[maipokerface]

"Shitty."

She's blunt about it but then there's no reason to hide anything, right? Beyond this newly found fear of the labels anyhow.

"You heard about the whole mess with the ghosts. I mean I'm pretty sure everyone did."

[faithfulflame]

"Yes. I did. Luce was taken for days as a result."

And if you know anything about flower power the band? You know how much that hurt them.

[maipokerface]

"I figured. You all are pretty tight after all."

It's not said derisively though.

[faithfulflame]

"Did anything happen in Crown of Thorns?"

[maipokerface]

"Me and Tooru went. Tooru's had it worse than me though."

She can admit that quietly, her faint amused expression fading into light sadness. It's not really guilty since Tooru volunteered but still... well. He's a good guy, she doesn't really want to see him hurt.

[faithfulflame]

"Shit..."

That's...about all she's got. Mai's alright, at least. That much is obvious.

"They didn't...no lasting harm? I figure...well, we know they did something to Mother's head."

[maipokerface]

"Not to me anyhow. Tooru's knee was busted up pretty bad though."

She raises a brow there.

"Her head?"

[faithfulflame]

"Her head."

Rei nods and takes a little breath, looking around the restaurant to make sure nobody is paying them any mind.

"Brainwashing. I'm sure of it."

[maipokerface]

"Huh. Sounds rough."

Then again who knows, maybe they did the same to her. It's not something she can pinpoint though.

"After a few days it all sort of blends together to be honest. I'm pretty sure everyone was punished in their own way."

[faithfulflame]

"Certainly."

It is rough, and Luce has been run ragged. Though...there's another question on her mind.

"Did you free your ghosts?"

[maipokerface]

"Barely. That's what got us in so much trouble, I think. I mean not that us breaking in and breaking them out won us awards either."

[faithfulflame]

"Undoubtedly. Which means it's a good thing you did."

Rei was very, very serious about that.

"Thank you for that."

[maipokerface]

She pauses at that, straw in her mouth and arms folded along the edge of the tabletop.

"... I think that's the first time anyone has said that."

[faithfulflame]

"Mother. Luce. She explained what you were trying to do. I, at least, recognize that as deserving thanks."

There's not a dram of sarcasm, and only sincerity there.

[maipokerface]

"I'm glad for her sake then. Mostly people have been calling it a pretty stupid move."

Most people being Squalo.

[faithfulflame]

"Do they not understand something big is at stake here?"

Like, souls?

[maipokerface]

"I doubt it. I mean on the outside it looks really dumb so I can't exactly blame them. Still, it showed me what I do and don't have control over."

And yeah, maybe she did it to help the ghost out. Partially. A little.

[faithfulflame]

"You guys...haven't talked much about it, have you?"

The incidents, she means, not necessarily the kidnappings.

"Like, what's really going on."

[maipokerface]

"Hell no. For a while I was almost too scared to mutter the label's name. Forget talking about it."