2015-09-26 - Need More Coffee For This
| Title: Need More Coffee For This | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Homework has been stolen, and these two HiME figure they're better off just re-doing their work. Or just doing the work, as the case may be. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Starbooks Coffee | |
| OOC - IC Date: 27 August 2014 - 09/26/2015 | |
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
The hour is late, and Starbooks Coffee is remarkably bereft of customers tonight. With the Fire Festival drawing to a close, many - including a coffee shop's usual clientele - are taking part, joining the crowds in playing with fire. Only those who couldn't avoid work, had better things to do, or were notably antisocial would avoid this kind of thing.
One girl fitting at least one of those categories walks in, hefty bag of books slung over her shoulder, and brushes her fiery hair from her eyes. Straight to the counter she goes, apologetic smile for the barista on her face. "...evening. Sorry to trouble you - I'll take two extra large, one black, one with milk." She pauses, hesitates - and sighs. "...and one chocolate cookie."
With a yawn, the coffee barista sets to work - it's an easy order, at least, and soon she's back to wiping down the counter. Mai, for her part, looks over her order for a moment...holds the small paper bag with her mouth, picks up both cups, and goes to look for an open table. Of course, with this state, she probably has her pick...
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Natsuki sips at her mocha as she flipped the pages of her book. Truthfully, she wasn't truly in the mood to read, but she had to try to get some of this book read for her class (if anything else to get Shizuru off her back about it). If read at home, Natsuki knew she would simply get distracted by the call of her internet, and thus lead her decision to go to the local Starbooks. She had a small chance of getting some reading done there, especially with everyone sociable and annoying at the fire festival.
She raised her head mid-sip and suddenly froze as she made eye contact on the familiar girl at the counter. "What the-Tokiha?" Why was she always running into this girl at the weirdest times?
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Mmphga!?" Mai lets out a yelp of surprise upon seeing her erstwhile classmate - and the bagged cookie drops from her mouth to land on the tiled floor. "W-what - wait, why are you surprised?!" She steps forward, putting her twin drinks on Natsuki's table before stooping to scoop up her now-broken cookie in its bag. "It's not like I never drink coffee or anything..."
She takes a seat, inviting herself brazenly to share the table - if only to be able to set down her unfortunately heavy book bag. "So, I suppose you're here for the same reason I am - getting started on those assignments all over again?" Mai looks into that bag with an expression of disgust. "Can't believe that I have to start over from the top, at this hour - what kind of jerk went and stole all our work, I ask you..."
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Natsuki had been fully prepared to make a snarky comment on how she was full aware Mai practically had caffeine in her blood from drinking it constantly to keep up with her workload...but it was forgotten as she topic of the homework came up.
Natsuki frowned and tilted her head thoughtfully. "Um...what exactly do you mean 'all over again' and by 'stole all OUR work' for that matter?" she asked in rare sincerity. "I'm just starting to do my homework now?" She couldn't help, but feel like she was missing something vital.
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
There is a long, silent stare from Mai. Disbelieving at first, then swiftly shifting to judgmental, and even furious in a manner reminiscent of a parent. "Natsuki Kuga. Do you mean to tell me you haven't even started any of your work until just this - I can't believe this! You're actually worse about academics than - than - than Mikoto! She at least has some of her work done!" There's a barely-contained screech in the back of her throat, ready to be unleashed -
- but in the end, she just lets out a hiss of fury, and she starts piling her books onto her side of the table. "I was -done-, Kuga. Even Sugiura's ridiculous history assignment - completely done. And then it all got stolen, so I'm stuck starting over from scratch."
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Natsuki just sat calmly with a stoick expression as she let Mai let out her vent. "Yes, 'Mom', I'm only getting started on it now," she retorted as she reached over and stole a broken piece of Mai's cookie. It was the price the girl had to pay for yelling at her like she was a small child.
"On that note, school grades aren't exactly high on my goal list-" she trailed off as she heard the last bit of Mai's vent.
"Wait...STOLE?! Are you seriously telling me someone stole your and Mikoto's homework?! What kind of nutjob would do that?"
A desperate student stealing Mai's homework to claim as their own? Sure, she could see that. Someone stealing Mikoto's homework...were they trying to get a drop in their grades?
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
What- Mom - no, she isn't-
Mai furrows her brow, glaring at the stolen cookie chunk - but unlike certain wild animals she can name, at least -she- wasn't raised by animals. And frankly, if Natsuki's put off her homework this long then the child treatment is being generous.
"That's blatantly obvious - but honestly, even with everything going on - do you want the wrath of the Student Council brought down on your head? Because that's what academic probation would mean, personal attention from them - I'm getting distracted." Mai's gaze goes back to the pile of homework - there's no way she can get it done in one night, but maybe some headway...
"...nutjob sounds about right. I heard some rumor about a giant homework-monster at Tokyo Tower, but then there's...hang on, I brought it with me." She turns, rummaging in her back for a moment, digging deep for something. "I figured you were just being your usual paranoid self, but...weird. Must have..." She closes her eyes.
And then opens them again, looking straight at Natsuki, meeting her gaze. "It was a note with weird ink and fancy calligraphy, that appeared on my desk. Must have disappeared after I read it - but basically, it said that if I wanted my friends' and my homework back, I was supposed to go to a certain place." There's a sardonic smirk. "Sound like a trap to you?"
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Sounds like the complete definition of a trap to me," Natsuki retorted as she leaned against her hand. "But seeing as I honestly haven't started my homework until today, that would explain why I haven't heard a word about this."
Natsuki wasn't exactly a social butterfly and she hadn't been in town the last few days for her to catch the rumours flying around.
"Still, I don't know if stealing people's homework is weird or somehow oddly clever seeing that is something that would frustrate everyone."
She glanced over to Mai's pile of papers and books. "Which teacher did you have for English? I think we had the same teacher for History too, right?" She gave a shrug. "Might go faster if you do one assignment, I do the other and we just copy each other's notes on it."
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Mai nods gravely at Natsuki's assessment. "Bingo. I mean - I'm sure that if these notes are widespread, some people would go out and try to fight back anyway. And I won't deny, I was tempted...but there's just one problem." Mai looks at the undone homework, and lets out a despairing sigh before lowering her tone.
"...best case, we'd find whoever was responsible, and they'd have a big stockpile of everyone's homework. Which means that if I needed to use Kagutsuchi...I'd rather not make enemies of even -more- of the magical community."
For a long moment, she's lost in her own thoughts - before startling at Natsuki's suggestion, and hunching over her books protectively. "What?! You can't - it's about integrity, Kuga, we're supposed to show our own work..." She blinks, realizing how silly this must look, and releases the books in question. "...but you're right, that would work better. Screw everything, we'll have a study group - and yeah, Sugiura's been cackling about a makeup exam for us for weeks, now. I'm pretty sure she assigned everyone different essays, so we might be on our own there..."
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Good point, I forgot about the make up essay," Natsuki said as she reached into her bag for her textbooks. She was glad Mai was seeing things her way. Being honest was all fine and dandy, but in situations like this, morals had to be tossed aside if either of them were to survive.
"We'll save that for last then. I did get my math answers done if you want those, how far are you in English?" She then raised a hand and looked over to the cashier.
"Hey! Give me the usual all night coffee pot. We're going to be here awhile." It wasn't exactly the first time she had to pull a late nighter here at the coffee shop. The staff here certainly knew Natsuki by name at least.
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"The essay's one thing - but she was laughing maniacally while cleaning her cape. I'm kind of worried, Kuga." Mai can justify it with some mental gymnastics - it's kind of like a study group, and this is a desperate situation anyway. "...but for what it's worth, Mikoto's surprisingly good at history. Drop by tomorrow for a civilized meal, maybe we can all compare notes. ...and do you mean before or after the theft?"
Mai can't help but grin - but she digs out her English book. At least the information should be fresh in her mind...although she blinks repeatedly at Natsuki's order. "All night coffee pot sounds like just what we need...but 'usual'?" It takes a moment for realization to percolate, but Mai's 'Mom' voice comes out in full force when it does.
"Hold it, Kuga, how bad -are- your work habits?!"
