Downtown Shang Mu, a small coffee shop just off one of the main thoroughfares on the edge of the city centre. The night is young, warm and clear, with a light cooling breeze gently ruffling the canopy. Only one of the six tables outside is occupied; a lone red-haired orange fox, sipping from her mug, staring into the mid-distance, watching the handful of civilians going about their own private business. The fox's ears prick up at the sound of a siren in the distance. For a moment, she stops drinking, focussed on the siren, until it fades under the background noise of the city. A moment later, she slumps a little in her chair with a gentle sigh, idly fiddling with the red scarf around her neck. Another sip from the mug; puzzled, she holds it up and peers inside. Seeing the mug is empty, she sighs once more in frustration, setting the mug on the table with a clumsy clatter.

"Something on your mind, Hanna?" The silver-furred hare sits opposite the fox at the table, sliding a fresh drink across to her. Hanna looks at the hare sidelong, eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"You're late," she growls.

"Only just," the hare counters. "Anyway, I bought you your favourite drink; how about a thankyou?"

"Hm," Hanna grunts in response, a hint of a smile creeping through.

"It has marshmallows," the hare adds.

"Darn it Rob," Hanna chuckles, smiling warmly, "you know me too well."

"Wouldn't be much of a boyfriend if I didn't, would I?"

Hanna sits upright, turning to face Rob. "And I love you for it," she chirps. A mellow silence descends, Hanna taking in the scent of her fresh hot chocolate, Rob sipping his green tea.

"Another 'benefit' of knowing you too well is knowing when you're in a funky mood," Rob observes. He pauses briefly. "Wanna talk about it?"

"I dunno, I guess I'm just a little melancholic right now." Hanna sighs deeply, her expression darkening. "Been feeling weird for the whole day in fact. Not really sure why."

"Well, the world has changed somewhat since that whole Brevon thing a week ago," Rob offers. "Thanks to all those robots on the loose, people are rather wary of anything out of the ordinary, and it's cutting into our business."

"No denying that. We've not had a serious mission for a while now, and petty theft just isn't exciting."

"I dunno; you can hit a dozen places before lunch, then enjoy the spoils all afternoon."

"Yeah, I guess," Hanna reluctantly agrees, "but you know I always prefer the big score."

"Admit it; you're just an adrenaline junkie!" teases Rob.

"Would you love me if I wasn't?" smirks Hanna.

They both chuckle warmly. Rob notices Hanna fiddling with her scarf.

"There's something else, isn't there?" Rob inquires.

"How can you tell?" Hanna asks, a little perplexed.

"You always fiddle with your scarf when something's bothering you."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Huh." Hanna pauses, lost in thought, swirling her drink, staring into the vortex created.

"Maybe something to do with a dragon and a cat?" Rob ventures.

Hanna locks eyes with Rob. "What have Lilac and Carol got to do with anything?"

"Like you said, I know you too well." Rob winks, pausing a moment to finish his tea. "You and Lilac have never seen eye-to-eye. And now she and her feisty feline friend are known across the three kingdoms as the saviours of Avalice."

Hanna's expression darkens in anger. "You think I'm jealous of them?" she dismissed with a snort.

Rob says nothing; he just looks Hanna in the eye expectantly.

"No, you're right of course," Hanna eventually sighs, hanging her head, her expression bled of anger. "That upstart has shown me up on so many occasions in the past, and now she's only gone and saved the whole darn planet! How am I meant to compete with that?"

"Simple: don't!"

"Easier said than done..."

"Y'know, that's the one thing I'll never figure out about you..."

Hanna chuckles gently in amusement, sipping from her now empty mug. She looks into it in confusion. "I drink this stuff way too quickly."

"We have time for another before the movie?"

Hanna thinks for a moment. "Nah, s'alright," she decides. "Besides, don't want to spoil my figure too much!"