Scene #2565: Teatime

Owner	Pose
Taro	An invitation from Taro. It's probably not too much of a surprise that he'd have sent one to Harriet. He did have a hand in her creation, and so of course he would take continued interest in her. He'd have met her personally at the warpgate junction. The tea house that he rather likes is just one convenient train station away, on a high terrace that has the appearance of being over the open sky, though really a light forcefield protects its patrons from any wind or chance of falling. Low wooden tables with brocaded floor cushions are scattered around the place, separated from each other here and there with folding screens to give a sense of privacy. Not quite Asian, but with that kind of flair. Unsurprisingly, Taro receives a lot of deferential treatment, and by extension Harriet will be receiving much of the same. A nice table positioned to give an excellent view of the surrounding spires and overlooking a sculpture garden. There's even a little cushion already set on the table for her.
Kari Wolf	Harriet's familiar is not an independent creature but often reflects the new model shinki's hidden moods instead, giving it the appearance of autonomy. Right now the large mechanical hare is investigating all the items on the table, sniffing with electronic sensors for any dangerous substances. The ears are moving, alert to sounds around them. Harriet herself has settled on the pillow placed on the table, watching Taro and glancing at the view once in awhile. "Reploids drink tea?" She asks quietly.
Taro	No dangerous substances detected. There is of course the low level but pervasive contamination of heavy metals and toxic compounds - even the hardiest scrubbers and shielding cannot keep the wastelands out entirely. Still, within acceptable limits for human health and entirely safe for machines. The heating element built into the table to keep the teapot warm is generally not safe to touch. Taro glances over the menu, then taps a finger on his choices to place his order. "Some do, some do not. A few even go as far as eating food now and then, but not many." A hint of a smirk, but the expression is more directed at himself than at her question. "Then again, I am not a proper reploid, so don't mistake my habits as reploid traits."
Kari Wolf	Harriet hmms. "So you're also different from the people around you?" The machine hare settles down next to Harriet. Harriet shifts a bit on the pillow. "The people who live in our apartment building don't seem to care that I'm different from Kari or the other shinki in the building." She says simply.
Taro	"I am," Taro admits, though from his tone it doesn't sound like this bothers him. "I did draw heavily from their physical design when constructing this shell of mine, but my matrix is not derived from X as reploids are." A pause as glances back to the menu. "Would you prefer a tea-flavored jelly can, or a different flavor?" Once she answers and he finishes their order, he sets the menu off to the side. She has his full attention now, and his gaze settles on her. "Should they care that you're not a traditional shinki model?" he asks.
Kari Wolf	The Mach Hare shinki nods. "Green tea if you would." Harriet shrugs at the question. "I thought they'd treat me different for being different. They don't seem to mind. In fact most of the shinki I've met are a lot like Kari; very cheerful and accepting." She explains, sipping the green tea jelly can when it arrives. "And I guess Master doesn't see me as a weapon because she doesn't make me go out and help the Confederate forces. She's just said that if I want to go do that, she'll support my decision."
Taro	It doesn't take long to be served. Long enough for Taro's tea to be steeped, but not much more than that. Put, jelly can, and cups arrive on a lacquerware tray, which he accepts with a polite 'thank you'. Smeone even tried to find a cup for Harriet, closer to a soup mug than teacup in size for her, but they tried if nothing else. Since he's technically the host here, he sets the jelly can and cup in front of Harriet first. Only after that does he pour a cup of tea from the pot for himself. A prayer is murmured over it, and then he's free to enjoy it. Which he will. "Does this bother you? How they treat you, I mean."
Kari Wolf	Harriet ehs and shrugs. "I'm not sure. It's all so new to me really. I don't even get how Kari dealt with everything in the few months after she was activated. I don't know what's normal yet."
Taro	Taro makes a quiet amused sound at her answer. "Normal is an extremely relative term, Harriet. In the Multiverse it can be no other way."
Kari Wolf	Harriet nods. "I guess that's true. So did you invite me for tea to check up on my mental state?" She eyes her familiar, which has resettled on Taro's shoulder. She doesn't even know why it's there.
Taro	Taro gives the familiar a sidelong glance as it settles itself on his shoulder, but he makes no objection. Between Fuki and his cyber-elves, he's grown accustomed to the role of perch. He simply shifts to using his opposite hand to sip so as to not jostle the familiar too much. "To check up with you in general, to see how you are doing, and what you think of the world you've been brought into. I hope you haven't found it too unpleasant a place." A short pause as he looks back to her. "I'd also been wondering what you'd been doing, what you're considering for the future."
Kari Wolf	Harriet ahhhs. "I'm not even sure what I want to do with myself. Kari says she signed up for the CEF because she wanted to make Master proud. Master said she was always more interested in machines than people. But I'm new, right? I don't know myself."
Taro	Taro gives a shallow nod at her answer. The answer isn't that surprising, really. "So you are. You also have the luxury of having not been created to fill a specific role or function. To learn who you are and to find your place will take time and experience. That is normal." He takes a long draught of tea, and then gently sets the cup on the table. "Right now, you have the opportunity to experience tournament combat, in the form of the WMAT. Have you thought about entering?"
Kari Wolf	Harriet hmmms... "WMAT? I don't even know what that means. Wouldn't it be really dangerous to fight people that much bigger than me? I mean, it's different if there's other people I'm supporting or they're helping me."
Taro	"Size is a factor, but it is not the only thing," Taro points out. "It can be used to their advantage, or to yours...I've fought cybertronians before, and my size to them is not unlike yours to mine. As for it being dangerous, it is fairly well regulated. Yes, people do get injured, but that it why they have medics like myself on the sidelines."
Kari Wolf	Harriet hmms and sips from the mug of green tea coolant for a moment. "I guess I could make a name that way. I should ask Master first though." Even though Zarenna will probably just say it's alright and Kari might want to throw a party. The hare has managed to settle on top of Taro's head now, peering curiously at Taro's meal as it were.
Taro	Taro blinks once as the familiar reaches for greater heights, namely the top of his head, followed by an almost comical upwards stare that of course doesn't bring the hare into his view. "Comfortable?" he remarks dryly to it. Tea. Green. Hot. Pleasantly astrigent. "Of course, and I'll defer to Zarenna's judgment. Still, I think you should consider it. It is a way to test your own abilities in a way that a combat sim cannot, yet in a structured way that you will not see in true combat." He gives her a faint hint of a smile, though that expression is heard more in his voice. "Besides, from what I have heard about scuff marks left on the ceiling, I do not think your size will matter too much."