[D9 LM Cafe expecting]Coffee with friends

[Alex Kovac]

Alex had to unplug from fixing the Vindicator for a while. The Penguin decided to.go out for coffee and some nice breakfast. Coffee alone is not really good unless it is shared with friends so the Angel member asked a friend to join in.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

Catherine had been mildly surprised to get an invitation for a coffee trip to town. Especially knowing how busy Alex is with the damaged Vindicator. But she is always up for a little adventure and she can use some change of scenery too.

Throwing on some casual clothes, she looks forward to spending a nice morning with her friend.

[Alex Kovac]

Alex waved at Cat and smiled. "Hello! ...I remember I promised a strawberry shortcake." The Pilot had already ordered a strawberry shortcake, coffee and a croissant sandwich. "I hope you don't take this as a bad omen."

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

Catherine waves and skips over to her friend.

"Oh! You remembered! Thank you!" The small redhead cheers at the news with a beaming smile and plops herself into the seat across Alex. It had been three months, since the little promise at the big new year's eve party.

"Why'd that ever be a bad omen?" She asks curiously and immediately proceeds to muse. "I wonder if they serve hot chocolate drinks here."

[Alex Kovac]

"I think so. They have Mocha, they probably have hot chocolate." Alex nodded. "Are you deployed today?"

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"I hope they do." The small tomboy replies happily. "I'm scheduled for the main advance today, so I have to go and set out in a few hours."

[Alex Kovac]

"I won't tell you how I jinx the whole thing..." Alex gave the girl a wink. "I still have a long way to go with the repairs so... I won't be able to help with the customization job. Mr. Kenna seemed to like your design."

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Jinx the whole thing?" Catherine queries with a small tilt of her head. "Yeah. The thing was looking really shot when it came in. How are those repairs going, Alex?"

She gives him a bright smile, brimming with excitement over the custom mech. "You already helped me plenty! Thank you! I should really do something nice for you in return."

[Alex Kovac]

Alex giggled. "Old mechwarrior superstitions. Now comes the difficult part, the engine that is quite busted... that turret really took a chunk out of it. But Mr Kenna gave me some pointers that will help me fix it good." Alex shook the head. "There is no need to repay me. You know that I like analyzing and verifying those schematics."

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Well, you didn't tell me though." Catherine shrugs with a smile. "So I guess it'll be all good in the end."

"Mr. Kenna really is amazing at this." She grins at her friend. "I'll gladly come by when you need a break from your work and show you some more of my ideas, if you like. If you are learning from him, you may even become as good at it as he is."

"Just make sure you don't become as grumpy as him." The small tomboy laughs. "Not before you are old and wrinkly, at least."

[Alex Kovac]

"Meeee grumpy?" Alex giggled. "I don't think I'll get to that age... I am a Mechwarrior you know. Not an actual tech... " Alex said faking feeling hurt, then the Penguin laughed. " But enough of that... you know I got something nice from Mei and need to find a way to wear it. I need Rico around to see me."

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Stop jinxing yourself like that." The tomboy giggles. "I want you to get old enough that even you will turn into a grumpy prune with a century's worth of stories to listen to."

She needs to moment to decipher her friend's request. "Ah, is that about this bet I have heard stuff about? Sure, I'll help! If you want me to. I will see what I can do. It sounds like fun too."

[Alex Kovac]

Alex smiled. "Yeah, I lost a bet to Rico in New Year's and I haven't found a proper day or activity to wear such attire. It is so pretty... I feel like a high noble wearing it." Alex's eyes glistened with glee and joy.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Oh~! Like a a high noble?" Catherine smiles excitedly. "That does sound very pretty. Do you have enough accessories to go with it?"

[Alex Kovac]

"Mei and I went shopping for shoes and I don't want to distract too much attention from the dress." Alex nodded. "I might need someone to do my hair and makeup." Alex grinned. "What do you think?"

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Oh, you are already well prepared then." Catherine is surprised. "Finding someone to really do you up would make work this even better. I am sure you can look amazing with just a little bit of help, Alex."

[Alex Kovac]

Alex smiled. "Unless you think I should just wear my hair down and ditch the makeup... I don't know..." The Penguin smiled. "You seem to have been making many friends... anyone particular fancies you?" Alex asked in a sibling-esk matter.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Hm..." Catherine thinks about it. "If you want to surprise Rico, you should definitely change how you wear your hair. But not so much you appear too different. Hair down could work. I am sure Goo or Gigi can help you with that better than I can. Some light makeup could work. Don't change who you are, just become a more polished version of yourself for the day. Like making a Battlemech look pretty for a big event." She smiles brightly at her friend.

The question catches her somewhat by surprise. "Huh." The tomboy thinks about it for a moment and asks curiously. "Maybe? How can I find out?"

Growing up with an overprotective father had ill prepared the young girl for this kind of thing. Catherine has many honorary uncles, aunties, or siblings like Alex, but little experience of the romantic sort.

[Alex Kovac]

Alex gave it some thought. "It is a feeling that you have ... Like butterflies in you stomach or wanting to that person all the time. I don't know much about it I haven't had a romance... Many crushes but not a real romantic relationship." The pilot sighed. "Never had time to dedicate to love."

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Butterflies in my stomach. Hm. I heard something like that before, but I never understood it. I've had feelings in my stomach before, but I wouldn't call any of them romantic."

Her smiles fade for a moment. "And well I wasn't up to anything much for a while after ... Toland. I have no idea where I am at now." It was only shortly before new year's eve that Catherine had begun smiling regularly again.