2581/No Loitering!

No Loitering!
Date of Scene:	05 July 2015
Location:	Tomoeda-865
Synopsis:	Tomoyo encounters a certain Mamimi Samejima smoking and slacking outside of her Boutique.
Cast of Characters:	Tomoyo Daidouji, 830

---

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Another swelteringly hot summers day has come to Tomoeda, with the temperature at a balmy 26 degrees Celsius, and humidity all the way up to 79. People going hither and yon in as little clothes at they can manage, fanning themselves with newspapers, shading their necks and heads with bags and generally trying to get to places with fans and/or air conditioning as soon as possible.

     Tomoyo's Boutique, thankfully, happens to be in a position where the afternoon sun hits the back of the store, providing shade to Madison Lane. More than a few cats have chosen the area as a place for an afternoon nap, thanks to the relative coolness.

     The owner of the store peeks out past the mannequins in her windows to look at them. She kind of wants to let them in so they can escape the heat, but what if she can't get them out? What if a customer comes in? With a little forlorn sigh, she goes back to dusting the shelves.

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
Something has the cats attention.
It has a few other people's attention as well.
Some peopld go by, pointing - stopping for a moment.

What could make the town of Tomoeda point at a building, and the cats, on a burning, scorching day? The shade hasn't only attracted the cats. Having trekked through the town, Mamimi is exhausted - and definitely more than a little tired and overheated. Sprawled out near the cats, even the cats don't seem to completely want to hang around her, most of them staying about but to themselves.

Though Tomoyo might only barely be able to see her, what she would most likely see would be a plume of smoke from where the cats were. Where it's coming from might be unknown, but it most likely has to do with the cigarette in Mamimi's mouth as she lays against the building, legs pressed against her chest, subsisting off of shade in such heat.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     As Tomoyo walks away, her brain slowly begins to process what she saw out the corner of her eye. Smoke, coming from around her store... OH NO! She drops her duster to the ground and rushes out the door, going to take a look at the source!

     It's... a girl, around her age maybe. Certainly too young to be smoking, and yet here we are. A complicated mix of emotions crosses over the tailor's face. Relief that her store hasn't burst into flames, concern at the sight of Mamimi's ragged appearance and flagrant law-breaking, and also a touch of outrage that she would do this outside of her store, driving away potential customers.

     Although, in the end, Tomoyo is far too kind-hearted to let outrage win out. And so, even though the smoke is burning her throat a little, she kneels down to properly look the other girl in the eyes. "Hello there~ Are you okay? Is the sun getting to you?"

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
A door swings open in a hurry.
    Mamimi's gaze twists over to it.
        Especially the girl as she rushes out.

That look. Mamimi watches Tomoyo slide out of the door only to stare at her. Full lips cradle the cigarette as Mamimi stares back at Tomoyo, the time it takes between her exiting the store and to talk enough to tell Mamimi enough. That look she has seen over and over again, yet one she cannot really blame them for. She inhales, some of the cigarette burning away, ashing paper and removing scrawled words on the disheveled paper. The look Mamimi gives Tomoyo back is best described as blank.

It's a surprise to Mamimi that Tomoyo doesn't begin to curse her out, even if she is so young. Kneeling down towards her even. The smoke only gets worse as she exhales, sliding the cigaratte from her mouth as she answers and releases a cloud of smoke, back against the store, Mamimi slid against the ground and building equally. "I could use a drink. Something sour." She responds to Tomoyo, attention grabbed now. "Nah... I'm fine. The sun's kind of nice, actually." She claims.

Only after talking does she finally sit up, fully turning towards Tomoyo, crossing her legs as she glances upwards. "Is it your break?"

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo smiles! When Mamimi was giving her that blank look, she was starting to fret a little, worried that she was confronting some kind of delinquent. She coughs a little bit at the renewed cloud of smoke, covering her mouth. She doesn't want to upset the girl!

     When she mentions wanting a sour drink, Tomoyo crosses the road to a vending machine. Extracting some coins from her pocket, she puts them into the machine and comes back with two cans, one of which she hands to Mamimi, some kind of carbonated lime drink. The tailor leans against the wall and slumps to sit next to the smoker, opening her own can of orange juice.

     "The sun is nice, isn't it~? I'm usually cooped up inside, so it's not often I get to appreciate it." She sips at her juice and offers a little smile at Mamimi's next question. "I'm my own boss~ My break is whenever I say it is."

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
That's exactly what Tomoyo is facing.
    She's just not one that flaunts it.
        Much.

With Tomoyo actually going /across the road/ to get drinks, Mamimi is almost floored. Almost. Tomoyo is almost -too- nice, and Mamimi, smiling, may be slightly confused. Popping the top of the lime drink, Mamimi sips it initially. Then takes it straight back, holding it up as she basically chugs half of it it, though doesn't seem to get that much on her face. Parts that do she just wipes it against her skin with the back of her hand, once she has a free one. "Hey, thanks." She offers, before taking the bag nearby her, rooting through it for what looks to be a scone. A bit fancy for her look. Not exactly a fresh one. She grabbed a few, though, last time she had the chance.

"Mmph eezz." (It is) She answers, swallowing after. The outer layer, flakey and older, leaves a bit of debris. "Huh? You should just stay outside then, instead of spending it inside all the time then. Takkun's the same way, he's always at school." Speaking of, shouldn't she be in school?

There's a moment of pause when Tomoyo announces, young as she is, that she is her own boss. "...No kidding?" She asks, sizing up Tomoyo again, peering up almost uncomfortably close. "Are you married also?" She asked, non-chalantly. Clearly Tomoyo is super advanced!

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo stares as Mamimi chugs the drink, like she hasn't had one in a while, and the pity she feels in her heart only deepens. But, she just keeps smiling as she is thanked. "You're welcome~" She continues sipping at her juice, glancing out the corner of her eyes as Mamimi gobbles down a scone. She's actually familiar with such things, and so recognizes a stale one when she sees it.

     She looks intently at Mamimi as she answers. Since it was Saturday, and the half-day of school was already out, she hadn't been surprised to see someone her age out and about. But her uniform is not from around Tomoeda... "Well, all of my interests are things that are best done indoors~ Materials for clothing can warp under intense sunlight, and the outdoors don't exactly have the best acoustics for singing." She pauses and rubs her chin. "I suppose I could take some nature photos and videos... but I just haven't had time. Things have been crazy lately..."

     She blinks, and places her hand over her mouth. "Er, sorry~ Didn't mean to vent at you like that. You seem to have it rougher than I do right now." She blinks at the unusual question, then smiles, not even flustered. "No, I'm not married~ Marrying young is in the blood apparently, but I've got a business to run! No time, and no one to love."

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
More staring.
    It's the same back home, actually.
        Mamimi wonders what thoughts go through that head.

There's a brief thought - to make a sacrifice to Cantido, one that would remove the stare. A brief flicker of a flame that Mamimi puts out, just like the cigarette on the ground, twisting the butt besides her on the ground, the word 'best' the only remaining scrawl that can, now, not even be made out without great effort. Mamimi didn't even really know what a scone one. Just that a quarter guardian angel was offering champagne and them for free. Also small additions that litter her bag. She took some of those too, even if it's just like jelly or jam spread.

Still, that she's wearing such clothing on a Saturday - Mamimi is either very dedicated, or there were other issues. Ones that she doesn't seem to be speaking of. "Huh." She notes, grasping her knees to listen to Tomoyo. So she sings, makes clothing... videos? Photos?

Mamimi fishes out an old camera, an Olympus, as she holds it up to her eye, twisting it towards Tomoyo. "Oh, you too? Seems like there's a lot to take pictures of." She notes, absently, twisting it from vertical to horizontal. Of course, Tomoyo vents - and Mamimi doesn't seem to care. Well, she does. A little. Her 'rougher' comment flows like water down Mamimi's back as she leans forwards, camera uncomfortably close. Sliding it away, Mamimi still stays a bit close. "You're that busy, huh?"

"Why?" She asks, plainly, breathe of cigarettes. "everyone should her someone." She remarks, leaning a bit on Tomoyo. "Not even a crush?"

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo seems a little relieved once the cigarette is stubbed out, though she makes a note to sweep up the butt once Mamimi leaves. And the sacrifice seems to work, because Tomoyo did look away, realizing she was staring a little too much.

     Although, she does beam as Mamimi takes out that camera, fishing into her apron to take out a camera of her own! It's quite small and slim, silver with an automatic lens cap. Very fancy, very hi-tech. She lifts it to her eyes and points it at the other girl, like a photographic Mexican standoff.

     "Mmhm! I have to keep my grades up, or I'm not allowed to run the store anymore. So I test myself using old university entrance exams~ Once you've done a few of those, high school tests become simple! And then I have to keep looking out for new materials to make clothes from, on top of my physical conditioning and combat training and..." She clams up there, not wanting to reveal her recent mercenary contracting to a stranger.

     As said stranger shifts in uncomfortably close, Tomoyo starts to sweat a little, clutching her empty can a little tighter. She's been called weird before for her interests, but this girl was /weird./ "Crush? Well... I thought I did, once. But looking back, I think I was just being silly..." Her voice takes on a tinge of wistfulness, her eyes peering beyond the present and into days long past.

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
Likely Tomoyo will.
    Because Mamimi isn't offering to clean up the butt.
        Not out of ill will, just... not what she does.

The sight of Tomoyo's superior camera! Mamimi doesn't really feel jealous, but rather takes it in. "Wow, that must be pretty new." She exclaims, mouth opening as she examines it from a slight distance. Yet there's more to it. Tomoyo is using /university entrance exams/ for //high school//. Mamimi suddenly feels like having another cigarette, but looks down at the ground at the snuffed out out. Maybe she could manage to re-light it? But it's so very little left...

Combat Training. Physical Conditioning. Tailoring. One after another, Mamimi listens to this - what did they call them - elite talk to her about what she is doing, what she can do, how far she's willing to go. "That's so much." She wonders aloud, "Don't you just want to not do some of that? Sometimes it's just nice to lay out under a bridge." She remarks, still in close.

With Tomoyo sweating a little, though, Mamimi gets a bit of a smile - no - a grin as she leans even closer. "Nope, you were probably just honest with yourself back then... you're older now, so you're probably lying to yourself, now." She makes the case, chipper.

Possibly because she's re-positioned herself to drape a bit onto Tomoyo. "Can't fool me, you know."

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo smiles as she lowers the camera, examining it. "Kind of new~ I use it to take pictures of my customers in their new outfits!" She smiles giddily as she starts scrolling through them, showing Mamimi pictures of all sorts of different people, clad in strange yet obviously well-made outfits.

     When she's asked if she ever wants to take it easy, the tailor looks thoughtful for a moment. "I've been so swept up in... things, that I haven't really thought about it. But I think... yeah. After this most recent issue is cleared up, I'll take a little vacation~" She fails to mention that her vacation might be to the land of the dead if she's unlucky. Again, doesn't want to vent to the strange smoker who clearly has it rough.

     But, as Mamimi presses the issue, Tomoyo becomes increasingly worried. She's sweating even harder, and not from the heat. Her violet eyes are flicking about, as if looking for an escape route, and her empty juice can is totally crumpled in her fist. "I don't think that's true... now that I'm older, I can tell how childish I was being, that's all... besides, they love someone else. As long as they're happy, I'm happy to." Her voice is clear and certain... she's not trying to convince herself at all, she actually believes it.

     Although, she does let out a tiny yelp as Mamimi drapes over her, her cheeks finally starting to go a little pink.

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
Kind of.
    Mamimi is absolutely amazed by it.
        Not that she'll ever afford something like that.

Still, Mamimi does look at those pictures. "So you made all those... huh, no wonder you're busy." Crazy busy, from the way Tomoyo keeps talking about things. Being swept up in those -things- that are clearly leeching away from the best years (possibly) of her life. She does, Tomoyo does. Mamimi makes another note in her head. "How long do you think it'll take?" Mamimi asks, still leaning on Tomoyo.

Yet the strange smoker that 'has it rough' wouldn't care, compared to Tomoyo. No matter how good Tomoyo has it, the strange smoker gave up a while ago. Like a rock, she'd listen. She'd also support her as much as one. Being there, reliably. Pretty much all she can offer. Tomoyo continues to make excuses, Mamimi having dealt with someone just like her, a little. Just a little. Age, at least. With eyes darting about, Mamimi's smile is a definite playful grin.

"Nnn.. yeah?" She asks, "That sure, huh." She remarks, hearing no wavering of her voice. There's even a yelp as she drapes. "Hey. You're all sweaty. Are you getting hot?" Mamimi absently remarks, "That person they love - they love them back?" Yawning, Mamimi takes out the camera, making almost a duck face while atop Tomoyo. CLICK.

"Anyways, it doesn't matter. If they love someone else and you're happy, I guess you really love them then."

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo seems more at ease as Mamimi doesn't seem intent on mugging her or anything by being so close. "How long isn't up to me. I just have to be ready until someone else makes their move..." A look of worry crosses her face again, but only briefly, like a cloud blocking the sun on a gusty day.

     "Huh? I am?" Tomoyo hadn't noticed, but when she pats her brow, her hand comes back slick. "Oh! Goodness, the heat must be getting to me more than I thought!" She doesn't want to admit that it was because a stranger was being so forward with her, it might upset her. So she fishes a handkerchief from her pocket and dabs the sweat away.

     Just in time to be involved in a selfie! She looks to the camera and smiles, just in time for the photo to be taken. "Oh yes, they love each other dearly~ Seeing them together is so heartwarming." Though, at Mamimi's last comment, she bites her lip a little. "As a /friend,/ yes," she says insistently.

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
"If it's up to someone else..."
    "Why worry about it."
        Such sage advice.

Worry on her face - and yet Mamimi doesn't even bother to ask, not worried about her worry in the least. "If you're aways ready, they don't really have to do anything at all, do they." She remarks, "Like... a cup filled to the brim with hot coffee. Just touching it will cause it to overflow." It's really not the best metaphor. Mamimi doesn't care about being the best, though.

Mamimi actually slides off after the picture, the grin still on her despite that. A bit like Takkun, except Takkun didn't take her crap - he continued to call her on it. Tomoyo... she just continually /deals/ with it. How much could she possibly deal with before she cracks? Mamimi is tempted to find out. "Good for them." Mamimi responds, smiling to Tomoyo now - just a normal, every day smile. As a friend. "I'm friends with Takkun, too. See?" She holds up a photo she fished out. It's a picture of his neck. A hickie.

Friends.

Mamimi gets up, brushing off her skirt and grasping her bag as she glances down, "Planning on staying out here until I leave?" The question comes, kind of abruptly.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo laughs distantly, shaking her head. "Oh no. This... thing is really important to them, and I'm just kind of an afterthought to it. They'll do it eventually." It'll just take time. Ending the world isn't something you just do on a whim. That takes time, and planning.

     Tomoyo peeks at the photo, going a little pink again as she recognizes the bruise and the general area where it is. "O-Oh my..." She bites her lower lip, clearly trying to decide if she should say something or not. Ultimately, she says, "Er... if he's just your friend, you shouldn't lead him on like that. Feelings might become muddled, and it might destroy your friendship. And those are important, you should try and make them last forever..."

     Her voice becomes wistful and distant again, but she suddenly snaps back to the present. "But, if you do have feelings for him, say so! In this day and age, you don't have to wait for a boy to make the first move."

     The sudden question catches her off-guard, and she smiles, shaking her head. "No, I think I'll keep taking in the sun~ Besides, I do need a bit of a break." She shows Mamimi her right hand. There are some band-aids on her fingertips. "When you work with needles, you're going to get pricked eventually~" She still sounds cheerful despite that particular issue.

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
Mamimi is usually not judgemental.
    She isn't here, either.
        Tomoyo though, seems like a doormat.

It might have been noted from the free sour drink, which she polishes off and just leaves there. Or the fact that she draped atop her. Better yet, Mamimi prying into her more private matters. All of that either played carefully and close to Tomoyo... or simply swung open. Mamimi isn't sure. It's so important it can change Tomoyo's life - yet she is busily doing everything else in the meantime.

"Mm?" Mamimi answers Tomoyo's response about not leading them on, and how it can destroy the friendship. "He doesn't really like it, but he doesn't fight back." Comes the reply, "Did you want one?" She asks, having no intention at all of providing her one. The entire /point/ of Tomoyo's response flies right by, Mamimi shifting attention to something completely different.

"I know. Takkun doesn't swing his bat." She responds to Tomoyo, as she wakes from her wistful response. It isn't a really direct answer. She'll just stay outside, huh?

Probably until Mamimi would leave, then. To keep taking in the sun, to take a break... and then that little note about needles. Mamimi, confused, looks to the fingertips and then what Tomoyo said. "Yeah." She agrees, nodding, turning around as she begins to walk off. "No reason to worry about it, then."

Sometimes you're just waiting for it to happen.

Mamimi's already familiar with the idea. A few times she was already burned. A few more times wouldn't hurt.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
     Tomoyo... frowns? It's an unusual expression, like her face has no practice in showing an unhappy expression. Is she really that sheltered? "If you know he doesn't like it, you shouldn't do it." She makes an attempt at a stern tone here, but it falls short, and just sounds sort of pleading.

     She smiles at the offer and shakes her head. "I'm flattered, but I'll have to turn you down~" No embarrassment at the fact that Mamimi is a girl... did she actually realize that she was only joking? Or is this something else? And yet, she blushes at the phrase 'swinging his bat.' Okay yeah, she really IS that sheltered.

     She actually gets up as Mamimi goes to leave... but only to chase after here. "Hold on!" She takes out that fancy camera again, extracting the memory card and popping in a new one she fishes out from her apron. And then offers it to Mamimi. "Here~ My mom's company is going to be putting out a new version soon, so you can have this one!"

     Whether Mamimi uses it to take photos, or just sells it, she doesn't care. She just... wants to help, somehow. So she reaches out to put it into Mamimi's bag and nods. "It was nice meeting you... ah! I never introduced myself! I'm Tomoyo Daidouji~" She reaches out again, this time to take Mamimi's hand in both of her own and gives it a firm shake.

Mamimi Samejima (830) has posed:
"If he didn't like it, then he wouldn't put up with it."
    Mamimi's response is a direct rebuttal, and also a jab.
        Tomoyo didn't protest all of once. At all.

After all, he never had to go where she hangs out all the time. He had other friends, too. Even had mostly a supportive family. All the things she doesn't really have, actually. With Tomoyo rejecting the 'offer', Mamimi is non-plussed. Tomoyo to her is all talk and action, but little response. Her mouth was very close to her neck earlier. It only would have taken a little nip.

She wouldn't have though. She's not Takkun. "That's cool, too. Sometimes you just have to do things though. So you don't overflow. You know? Like a cup of coffee at the brim." She remarks to Tomoyo, with her explanation once more.

Mamimi's movement away elicits a 'HOLD IT' - the high schooler freezes for a moment, head lazily turning around. Her body follows just as Tomoyo takes that fancy camera out, offering it to Mamimi. She's ... giving her things? After all she just did? Mamimi doesn't resist. Maybe one day, long ago, she would have had reasons to. For now, Tomoyo enables Mamimi. "Huh?" She tilts her head, "Thanks," Comes her remark, "Should come in handy." Whenever she can leech power from someone/something - or if she's desperate enough to sell. Unless it's stolen from her. It's also possible.

She can't exactly fight back when that happens.

She doesn't even ask if she's sure. Apparently, though, it was a nice meeting. Sure. That's fine, too. It wasn't bad for Mamimi at all - all the free stuff she got. "Yeah, same here." She answers, "I think it's okay not to know sometimes." However a hand is extended towards Mamimi, head gaze resting on it before she meets it with her own, or tries, before both hands grasp hers and SHAKE! Mamimi shakes back, but is mostly /shook/. "Mamimi Samejima, Dai-san." She smiles, but it's a very small one. "Guess I should have said goodbye." She adds, after the shake. Then doesn't, as she turns around. "See you later, Dai-san. Don't work yourself to death." And walks.