jia-sonae:
With a ginger push they stepped inside the very familiar place, the worker spotting Jia then giving a nod of acknowledgment as they always ordered the same drink. A mocha latte with extra cream. Sometimes it’s best to keep things the same, if it ain’t broke, eh? An easy smile spread as they headed for a table, stopping when a face they didn’t expect comes into view. “Skye?” The name left their lips before brainpower could stop it. The Defiant movement leader? Jia typically gave space to most androids in the movement as to not cause them discomfort, the brunette being a human and all…
“Heya, mind if I grab a seat or are you waiting on company?”
the appeal of the cafe hasn’t been lost on skye once since she first defied her programming. it’s a light-hearted little place, one she’d been too scared to visit back in the days she traveled around with niji and the others, but had wanted to desperately. everything in her being had wanted nothing more than to pick up one of the little cats and cuddle it to her chest. she couldn’t, however, and she remembers their group sitting around in one of their hideouts, chatting for an hour about the simple pleasures they’d denied themselves because of fear. this, among others, had been hers, of course.
nowadays, she can visit with the cats. she knows better how to blend in with the humans who visit and no one thinks anything of it if she’s alone. the cats are there to welcome her undivided attention, just as they’re supposed to, and she’s content spending some of her free time petting them and getting rewarded with their gentle purrs and mews for more.
today proves itself in wanting to be different, granting her with company from an unexpected face. skye looks up from the cute calico batting at her hand with it’s paw and to the human, eyes widening briefly as her own name leaves the other’s lips. outside of movement activities, she goes by the name ‘hana’, but not everyone knows that, of course. it hadn’t been spoken too loud, at least.
“ah, no. i’m not waiting on anyone. go ahead.” she gestures to the empty seat before her, offering a friendly smile to them as she places name to face. “jiaying, yes?” she asks, “how are you today?”
It didn't occur until after the name had left Jia's mouth that it might not be wise to actually say it aloud, but that was a bit too late now. At least, the cafe was pretty much just filled with the usual feline friends ready to be petted by those inside. It wasn't super busy either, something that put the brunette at ease. Once Skye gives a response Jia would take a seat across from her. For a few seconds the words to respond caught in Jia's throat, a lump forming due to slight nerves. Hopefully they hadn't screwed up in the defiant leader's eyes, a bad first (sort of) impression wasn't what they were after.
"Thank you, though I apologize for just inviting myself over like that." Jia can't come up with a way to apologize for the blurt of the name, not without risking more slip-ups. With a sheepish little grin tugging at their lips, an apologetic look is directed at Skye hoping to convey what can't be spoken. "So, you like this cafe? It's one of my favorites purely because of the many cats. I can't adopt a pet just yet so it's a second best sort of thing, you know?"
Small talk wasn't really Jia's strong suit and it came to their head a bit too late that there really weren't any known shared interests aside from the defiance group. That wouldn't stop an attempt, but now with the cat talk used they're left to fiddle with a sugar packet left in one of those little baskets they leave to add to your drinks. "Ah..oh! Yes, yes I'm Jiaying. Sorry, I'm not fully with it I guess." A nervous chuckle left them as they berate themselves mentally.











