✿ OVERFLOW

[journaler]

WARNING. SYSTEM OVERLOAD.| A problem has been detected and the device has been shut down to prevent damage. To prove that you are human please░░░▒░▒▒░░??░▒cont▒nue. How m▒ny?body░parts a??▒list▒d▒░░head░▒▒eyes

Comments

[journaler]

[Less game, more reality... Leia vaguely registers the notion, before she turns to face him again.]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. It looks like they have a bit of everything.

[There's just enough of a crowd that the place is happening, but not enough to make them decide to eat somewhere else, too. The only way this could get better is if she actually manages to cheer this guy up!

...but she'll see about that.]

So, what was this... uh, virtual reality thing called? Was it popular?

[She approaches the cafe, leading the way as she has been so that she can pave the way and make it safe for Hinata. She holds the door open for him as they make their way inside.]

[particularity]

Not popular... it wasn't actually finished, to be honest with you. It was meant to be a program for rehabilitating people.

[Don't worry! He's at least distracted, which is... honestly, better than he could have asked for. He's the type to brood and mull over things again and again when he's on his own, to just have another presence and another person to talk to...

It doesn't escape him the way she goes ahead of them, though, so far as to hold the door open for him, and he sorta smiles at it.]

[journaler]

Huh... a program for fixing people. [Leia sounds intrigued, though at the same time, the smell they're greeted with in the cafe distracts her momentarily. She sighs, feeling content, but returns Hinata's smile when she turns and notices it.

It's probably the most color she's seen on his face this whole time.]

It's too bad ViViD can't do the same, or I'd take you there right now.

[particularity]

[Hinata shakes his head with a small chuckle.] I appreciate the thought, but I'll be fine. [He sounds as though he's trying to convince himself just as much, but that aside...

He heads over to one of the tables, nudging out a chair for her to take a seat.]

Anyway, I'm okay with keeping my experience with rehabilitating virtual realities to just one.

[journaler]

[She sits in the chair without much thought, though it's clear that she appreciates the gesture. She chuckles back at him, expression bright.

Of course this means he's been rehabilitated before.]

One must be tiring enough. So let's see if we can't make this go away on its own.

[As if she'd been listening, a waitress comes by at that moment with menus!]

[particularity]

[Hinata accepts one of the menus, looking it over curiously.]

Yeah. That's the best course of action, I think...

[Even if he doesn't know how. And he thinks he might end up succumbing to it sooner or later.]

[journaler]

[They seem to be on the same page, which is a good thing! And speaking of pages, Leia's turning the ones in the menu, until she suddenly spots something and perks up. She turns the menu around suddenly so Hinata can see... even though he definitely has his own.]

Oh, look! There's almost an entire page worth of smoothies.

[He did say he wanted a slushy drink, and she definitely does now, too. Everything's really colorful, not to mention delicious and refreshing-looking.]

Perfect!

[particularity]

That... makes it hard to pick.

[He looks at her menu uncertainly before looking back at his own. He spies a matcha one soon enough, pleased, and shuts his menu and sets it down.] Luckily I had something in mind already. What are you going to get?

[This situation is so absurdly normal, he thinks as he props his chin on his palm. How long has it been since he's done something like this... wait, has he ever done something like this? Not with someone he's just met, that's for sure.]

1/2

[journaler]

[At that, Leia turns the menu back around and looks contemplative. This decision could totally affect the rest of her day, and she needs to choose carefully!

...

......]

The strawberry!

[She nods, happily flipping another page.]

Hmm, and maybe something sweet to go with it...

[journaler]

[Wait.]

But I should probably get a sandwich first if I want one, huh?

[Not that she minds the idea of skipping right to desert, but... health is a thing she thinks about, as a former nurse. And she hasn't had a proper meal yet.

She starts to flip the menu back a couple pages.]

[particularity]

Uh--

Yeah. A sandwich would probably taste strange if you eat it right after something sweet.

[It's so normal, this conversation...

Not for the first time since he's come here he thinks that. He's sure he'll think it again, and again...]

[journaler]

You should have one, too! Even if you're not hungry, you can always take it home.

[She hums thoughtfully as she skims through their selection, and picks something simple, yet meaty club sandwich that anyone might be able to appreciate.

Before Hinata can object, she'll order two of them, and their choice of smoothies, too.]

[particularity]

I'm really not--

[And there she goes. Ahh. He was completely too late.]

--sure I'll eat it later, but I'll try. I don't like wasting food...

[journaler]

[Oops. Leia doesn't look too bothered, though, and seems confident that it won't be wasted. He'll be hungry eventually, after all...! Even if she isn't sure how well the sandwich will hold up...

...Ah, well.]

It's okay. I'm sure it'll be good!

[Which probably wasn't the issue, alas.]

Besides, I don't like wasting food, either. That was the worst part when I helped out my parents at the inn... [That, and when she'd trip or almost trip with a customer's food, but Hinata probably doesn't have to know about that.] Throwing away that much food should be a crime.