[Phoebe] Cheer Up

[Ringo Shiro]

"One medium black coffee, please enjoy." Ringo placed the cup down on the counter top before the customer. Ringo's eyes titled over to the clock. It seemed to be his shift was up. The next counter staff was already dressed in uniform and ready. He nodded and went over to the locker room in the back.

Ringo opened the locker as he started to change out of his uniform. In all honesty, he was still worn out from the full moon a few nights ago. He is going to have to further explore the stratum seeing as how he barely contributed. That wolf was pretty much resistant to whatever he threw at it. It could've just been bad luck but he felt like he could've done more. Ringo closed the locker after adjusting his casual cloths. He checked his jean pockets and zipped ups his light red jacket.

Ringo walked on out, hands in his pocket. However, as he walked on out he noticed a previous customer at the cafe he worked out. He raised one hand out of his pocket to wave hello.

"Hey Phoebe."

[Phoebe Minola]

Phoebe had wandered around the shopping center idly, just a couple of days after the near-disaster that had been the full moon battle. That wolf and Vice's reappearance as a Shadow had thrown them all off their game. Her even more so as she nearly lost it in the middle of the whole insanity. Thankfully, Layla had helped her get out of her funk immediately afterwards but she was still concerned and maybe a little bit depressed.

Taking a walk around the mall seemed like a good idea at the time but now she wasn't so sure. The crowds just made her feel more lonesome and made her feel like she wanted to shy away. She wandered over to a vaguely familiar-looking cafe and entered. Maybe a cup of hot chocolate or something was going to help.

Just as she went in she immediately heard her name being called.

She looked up from her absent-minded thoughts and spotted Ringo. She smiled awkwardly. Of course, this was where he worked! How could she forget?

"Hi Ringo," she said kindly. "How are you? Been okay since... you-know-what?" she said, politely keeping 'their cover'. "You were kinda banged up so I was a little worried."

[Ringo Shiro]

"Hi Ringo," Phoebe said. Ringo took note of her awkward smile for a moment. "How are you? Been okay since... you-know-what?" Ringo blinked for a moment and then nodded. "You were kinda banged up so I was a little worried." Ringo laughed sadly.

"I'm fine. I've grown a lot tougher nowadays." Ringo looked on inside seeing as how he and Phoebe were kind of standing in the entrance way. "Let's head on inside. I might not be serving you since I'm off duty but none the less we're glad to have repeat customers again."

[Phoebe Minola]

She nodded and followed him into the store. It was a nice little place that felt cozy and welcoming. It made her feel better. She took a seat at a table and put down her bag, then fumbled with her bracelet. It was nice to meet a friendly face on this random outing but she felt weird because of her freakout after the full moon battle. She'd run off like a scared cat back then and she was not very proud of her conduct after wards, crying her eyes out and then dripping all over Layla - who had nevertheless been very kind about it.

"So... how's it going? I...kinda took off real quick after the whole thing was over," she confessed. "What happened after the wolf died? Did we find out what it was? Did, um, anyone say anything important?"

[Ringo Shiro]

Ringo and Phoebe got over to a table. The person at the counter found it odd that Ringo came right back but for now Ringo is a customer so he shouldn't question anything at the moment. He sat across from Phoebe. Even if he wasn't a waiter and techincally a bit thirsty hismelf, he was going to do what he can to make this a pleasant and peaceful experience for her.

"So... how's it going? I...kinda took off real quick after the whole thing was over," Ringo took notice of that. He wanted to check on Phoebe afterwards but she was gone by the time he looked around. At least she made it out okay she seemed. "What happened after the wolf died? Did we find out what it was? Did, um, anyone say anything important?"

"Aside from the fact that it isn't one of them, I don't know anything about it. I haven't heard anyone say anything about what it could be either." Ringo watched as a waiter went over to them. "I'll take black coffee please." Ringo can always add the pinch of sugar and cream when it gets here.

[Phoebe Minola]

Phoebe glanced at the waiter who came to take their order. He was probably curious why Ringo had come back inside and was now sitting with her.

Welp, I hope they don't think we're together or something, she thought and stiffened up a little.

"Um... one hot chocolate please, with a little caramel syrup if you can. Thanks," she said politely.

She let a deep breath when he left, because what Ringo said troubled her. "Not a Shadow... oh dear. That's not good. If not a Shadow then... what the fuck was that thing?" she blurted and then blushed. "Oh, uh, sorry about my language..."

She squirmed in her seat. "I mean, heck, it took down that Shadow in one blow - although we probably had given it a good deal of hits..."

She shook her head. "But anyway... I'm sorry I ran off like that. I was freaking out and I don't even know why. I'm not a newbie at this whole thing anymore. I should be able to keep my head but I couldn't. It was a huge mess. People going for each other's throats, people shouting and then... then that Shadow."

She sighed. "I can't believe Vice is dead. I think... his Shadow will still wander around and I don't know what I'll do when I see it. Vice helped me a lot, you see..."

She stared at the surface of the table with a painful frown.

[Ringo Shiro]

"Um... one hot chocolate please, with a little caramel syrup if you can. Thanks," The waiter nodded and went off to carry out their orders. "Not a Shadow... oh dear. That's not good. If not a Shadow then... what the fuck was that thing?" Phoebe turned red not long she blurted out that piece of inappropriate language. "Oh, uh, sorry about my language..."

"It's alright..." Ringo has after all heard worse from a girl arguably younger than him. That DJ...he wondered if she was okay now? She kind of left that battle in...what is a somewhat justified storm. Her words to Holly were uncalled for but that guy that tried to destroy the method of which she spoke. Ringo still wondered what was her deal though. Why she thinks the way she does.

"I mean, heck, it took down that Shadow in one blow - although we probably had given it a good deal of hits..." There was also the question what exactly it was doing at the shrine. "But anyway... I'm sorry I ran off like that. I was freaking out and I don't even know why. I'm not a newbie at this whole thing anymore. I should be able to keep my head but I couldn't. It was a huge mess. People going for each other's throats, people shouting and then... then that Shadow." Ringo's mind spent a few moments to relieve the chain of events. His mind finally falling upon the one she spoke about. "I can't believe Vice is dead. I think... his Shadow will still wander around and I don't know what I'll do when I see it. Vice helped me a lot, you see..." Ringo watched as Phoebe looked down at the table.

"Vice...you know he introduced himself to me as Black at first." Ringo said with a sad smile. "I'm couldn't really get a grasp on him..." Ringo's smile disappeared. That's another person the shadows took away. He wasn't sure how to continue the conversation. Not without opening up wounds. "How is Kyle doing now?" If there was one thing Ringo could remember well, it was Kyle had a particularly negative reaction to seeing the shadow.

[Phoebe Minola]

Phoebe blurted a sad chuckle at Ringo's comment. "Yeah, that sounds like him," she said. "Damn bastard was always playing up that mysterious and aloof part."

She shook her head to shake out the thought.

"Kyle is..." she hesitated. "He's just Kyle. He's angry. More so than usual. He's been trudging about the Shadowlands, putting any Shadow he sees to the axe."

She sighed heavily. "I'm getting tired of chasing after him - he's always steaming so I'm afraid he might lash out at someone.  He and Vice got along really well. I think Kyle actually liked him."

Phoebe sulked. "Kyle's by no means a bad person. He's just... ridiculously emotional and he gets angry really easily. He can usually restrain himself well-enough but I think the situation with Vice is too much for him. I think I can stomach it if the Shadow assumes Vice's appearance and shows itself to me but I don't think Kyle will take it well."

She smiled ruefully. "I can't seem to quit worrying about other people. Maybe Ran's right and I'm really such a doormat. I get sidetracked trying to protect people who may not really need protecting. But Kyle... stupid idiot needs protecting from himself."

Then she blinked, as though realizing something. "Oh gosh, I'm sorry I dumped all that on you. D-don't worry about Kyle, he'll be fine. How about you, you okay?"

[Ringo Shiro]

"Yeah, that sounds like him," Phoebe said with a sad chuckle. "Damn bastard was always playing up that mysterious and aloof part." Ringo nodded in agreement. "Kyle is..." Phoebe said, beginning to answer Ringo's question. "He's just Kyle. He's angry. More so than usual. He's been trudging about the Shadowlands, putting any Shadow he sees to the axe." Oh dear... Ringo thought. He knew Kyle was mad but...

"I'm getting tired of chasing after him -" Phoebe said with a sigh. "He's always steaming so I'm afraid he might lash out at someone. He and Vice got along really well. I think Kyle actually liked him." This would explain the strong reaction to the sight of him. "Kyle's by no means a bad person. He's just... ridiculously emotional and he gets angry really easily. He can usually restrain himself well-enough but I think the situation with Vice is too much for him. I think I can stomach it if the Shadow assumes Vice's appearance and shows itself to me but I don't think Kyle will take it well." To say the least...

"I can't seem to quit worrying about other people. Maybe Ran's right and I'm really such a doormat. I get sidetracked trying to protect people who may not really need protecting. But Kyle... stupid idiot needs protecting from himself." Ringo can't help but to think how much Kyle is making Phoebe worry. "Oh gosh, I'm sorry I dumped all that on you. D-don't worry about Kyle, he'll be fine. How about you, you okay?" Ringo smiled awkwardly.

"O-oh it's alright..." the waiter arrived though his expression said that he wondered what was going on but placed their drinks down. "T-thank you..." Ringo took a sip of his coffee before adding a few drops of cream into it. "I'm doing alright...doing my job as always..." Nothing too eventful compared to Phoebe. "Who is Ran though?"

[Phoebe Minola]

Phoebe smiled at the waiter when he arrived with their orders and thanked him before taking a sip of her hot chocolate. The warm sweetness made her feel better. She laughed nervously at the mention of Ran.

"Ahaha... Ran. She's alright, I guess. She chewed me out pretty good that one time, but looking back, I suppose she had a point," Phoebe said sheepisly. "I'm... not sure her attitude is the best for morale, but I see why she's doing it. I... think she probably doesn't like me, but that's fine. We, uh... had an opportunity to work together on something."

She thought about it and decided that talking about Alisa's new Persona awakening was not appropriate. She wasn't going to be airing anyone's laundry.

"Heh, don't worry about it."

[Ringo Shiro]

"Ahaha... Ran. She's alright, I guess. She chewed me out pretty good that one time, but looking back, I suppose she had a point," Phoebe said. "I'm... not sure her attitude is the best for morale, but I see why she's doing it. I... think she probably doesn't like me, but that's fine. We, uh... had an opportunity to work together on something." Ringo thought back for a moment. He placed a finger on his chin with one hand and then reached out for his cup to take a sip.

"Was Ran...the girl with the long black hair and the abnormally large scissors?" Ringo just wanted to confirm who he was talking about. He didn't have much to say other than apparently she has decent leadership skills and backed by a powerful persona.

"Heh, don't worry about it." Easier said than done. Ringo thought to himself as he took another sip form his cup.

"I am asking for a bit since we only known each other a few months but I am going to worry..." Ringo said with a sad smile.