2014-07-20 - Apologetic Hot Chocholate For The Magical Soul

Title: Apologetic Hot Chocolate For The Magical Soul
Summary: A lot has happened -- not all of it good -- which prompts Ren to invite Endo out for hot chocolate (and apologies).
Who: Endo Naoki and Ren Aizawa
Where: Uminari Seaside Park
OOC - IC Date: 7/20/2014 - 14 February 2014

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

When you /really/ want to apologize to someone and thank them for being such an awesome friend, you invite them out on a snowy day after school to enjoy hot chocolate in the park. Ren smiles nervously at Endo over the rim of the steamy cup of cocoa she clutches with her mittened hands. It really is the best drink for the occasion. A belly full of a warm beverage tends to make people more inclined to forgive you. Or so she hopes.

"Mmm. This really /is/ the best cocoa in town." Ren says after awhile of continued silence, pausing to take another sip. "It hits the spot so well. When you told me you've never had this kind before I knew I had to drag you here!"

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Endo can't hold too much of a grudge against Ren, despite the slap in the face and the antics the previous day. She did, after all, seem very apologetic. All the hugging and the crying seemed to do the trick.

So he's out at the park, bundled up in a dark jacket, sipping carefully from the cup in front of him. "It's pretty good," He approves, a bright smile offered across at his companion. "I guess you have pretty good taste, Ren-san." Another sip, and then his eyes slant back over toward the girl. "Did you get this just because you felt guilty?"

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Yes... the previous day. Ren still cringes when she thinks about her behavior. And the slap. Oh goodness. How could she do that to Endo? The way he forgave her once she came to her senses was a huge weight off of her shoulders. Mostly. She blows on her cocoa while Endo speaks, watching him for any signs of resentment that may spring up out of the blue. Thankfully, nothing of the sort occurs.

"Y-Yeah. You could say that. I had no right doing what I did. I think... I think it's just all the stress from /that night/ got to me..." She's course referring to the battle with the Mysterious Mage Guy (TM). "I still don't know why he attacked me. You and Nanoha heard him say he wanted something back he let me borrow? Maybe he has me confused with someone else?"

Her expression doesn't really show that she's buying that, however.

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Ren-san is very violent in real life too, not just in video games. Now I know to be more careful." Endo notes. He's just nettling her for fun, and it shows in the goofy smile that he makes at the girl over his cup. "Don't feel too bad about it."

The topic of the Mage from the previous night makes him sober a bit, a sour expression crossing the boy's features. He didn't fare too well back then either, the boy wincing briefly at the memory. "You've never seen him before?" His voice is a little lower, less cheery than it had been a second ago.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

Ren laughs. Endo knows how to diffuse sticky situations. It's part of why she enjoys his company. Who else responds the way he does? If anything he's a great sport about things.

More serious matters are quickly rising to the forefront of their conversation now, however. "No! Never in my life! He just came out of nowhere and walloped me good. It was... it /is/ scary. I'm sure he's not done with me. Sometimes I feel like he could even be watching my every move..."

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Endo nods, the boy taking a pensive sip from his cup before he replies, "I'm sorry I couldn't do more. I really messed that up, it was lucky those two girls we're there to chase him away." He pauses, his mind flashing back to his conversation with the blonde girl several nights earlier. "We probably just got lucky that one of them decided to help at all."

He doesn't like the thought that he wasn't able to keep his friend safe. The boy's fingers close a bit more tightly around his cup, his lips hiding behind it as he turns his gaze out over the park.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

"No. Don't apologize. You being there and trying to keep him from killing me is more than enough. Trust me." Ren grins, reaching out to give Endo a pat on the shoulder. "I feel guilty that Nanoha got dragged into it, though. She has her own problems with that girl -- who I /still/ can't believe actually showed up to help." Though the word "help" is being used very loosely in this sense.

"I don't want anyone to get hurt on account of me. That's not fair." She too casts a pensive look around the area, biting her lip slightly.

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"If you say so." Endo's tone indicates that he doesn't quite agree with Ren's pardon, but he offers her a small smile regardless at the pat. "Next time I'll do a better job." He nods firmly with that, wagging his cup in Ren's direction before he takes another drink.

"I don't know Nanoha, besides seeing her when the swan was around. But I met the other girl a few nights ago." He can still remember how unsettling she was, the tiny blonde on the rooftops of Akihabara. "She told me not to get in her way, and the Jewel Seed things weren't any of my business" The boy's lips twist into a frown. "So I told her that I'm not the kind of punk that can be scared off by stuff like that."

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

"You had a run-in with her?" Well. Seems like no one is exempt from dealing with that girl then. "This has been going on for so long now." Ren shakes her head, dwelling on past dealings with the petite blonde mage. "We don't want to fight her. But at the same time we don't want to let her collect all the Jewel Seeds. It's a big mess. I'm not sure if we'll be able to get through to her at all. Nanoha keeps trying though."

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Yeah. She seems to be working alone, not with anyone." At least, so she said. "I don't really want to fight her, if I don't have to." Endo's wrist twists around, swirling the little remainder of coca in his cup before his head lifts back in Ren's direction. "I guess we'll just have to do our best, right? There are too many things wrong to worry about them all." Which is hard not to do, but he can at least try. Plus, it sounds like an encouraging thing to say.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

"Good." Ren says in reply to Endo's assertion that he wants to stir clear of conflicts with the Jewel Seed hunting magus. "She packs quite a punch." Speaking from experience? Yep. Sure is. "And yeah, I'll do my best if your promise to do the same." She flashes him a bright grin, then downs the rest of her cocoa in a couple of eager gulps. The cup is then crumpled and tossed into a nearby rubbish bin. "I don't want to turn old prematurely from too much worrying!"

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"I wouldn't want you to be disappointed, so I will." Endo grins at his companion, finishing his own cup and sending it after hers. It bounces on the rim of the bin, wobbling in place before falling on the inside.

"I still don't know a lot about what's going on though," Endo admits. "Like with the Jewel Seeds. Are they really supposed to grant wishes?" It would be quite a feat, if that were the case. And a good reason for anyone to want them, and probably a good one to not just let anyone have them.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

"The Jewel Seeds... they're tricky." Ren replies, "They do respond to the desires of those who come into contact with and happen to activate them. Like that swan. It was pretty angry from whatever those Ohtori students were trying to do to it. And it wanted retribution. Sort of." Still didn't mean it's any less of a jerk, though. "And that monkey wanted to be free to do whatever he wanted. But things can get way more out of hand than it did with him, so thankfully we intercepted it in time."

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"That's not very useful, if they just answer animal wishes." Endo's cheeks puff out, the boy making a thoughtful expression. If they answered people wishes, then things would be different. "But those things were kind of a pain to deal with, right? So I guess it's best if I keep an eye out for them. I don't want any more giant birds."

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

"I don't think /anyone/ wants any more giant birds." Ren chuckles, covering her mouth a bit. "So keeping an eye out for them would be for the best. I call dibs on the next Jewel Seed that pops up, though." She points an accusatory finger at Endo, then laughs. "I doubt it'll be as easy as taking it from that monkey was, though."

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Well, if we work together, it won't be a problem." Endo offers another smile, this one a bit brighter. "I should try to work with you more, since you're here. I used to think I was doing this all alone, but now I know I've got some backup." The boy rises, rubbing hands together and turning around to face Ren again.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

"Of course you're not alone, Endo-kun!" Ren swats him lightly on the shoulder, giving him a look of exasperation. "I'll always have your back, for one. Never forget that, alright? Solidarity!" She pumps a fist into the air. "I feel like we can take on anything that comes our way if we put our minds to it and work as a team."

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Endo grins at Ren, bobbing his head. It really is good to have her around, both as an ally in combat, and as an actual friend he can share these things with. "Alright, Ren-san. If you promise not to hit me anymore." The boy retains his beaming smile as he makes a motion behind the bench, to the rest of the park.

"Let's go back. We can get something to eat, and then I should get to work." Always busy, Endo. At least he seems to be making more time to spend with Ren, now that he's told her who he really is. And he'll probably continue to do so. "Something with lots of meat."

<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

"Only if you promise not to be a jerk." Ren counters, sticking her tongue out at him playfully. Yes, spending time with Endo is very, very rewarding. She's never particularly been one to make close friends, so this is new. And exciting. And nice. Really nice.

"Meat it is then! Onward!" She points in a random direction before gabbing onto Endo and pulling him along. They'll definitely end up in a nice cozy restaurant in no time.