24 The Underground Mall
Frisk: (stares along the length of the bus, still unable to process how BIG this thing was)
Setting: The bus softly traverses the snowy path, and finally stops. The bus driver hollers something, but its too far to hear. A few others from the bus shuffled off as well.
Except to Enyo, who jumping up and rushing down the isle: First!
Alcina: Enyo!
The girls surged to their feet and raced along the isle, skipped down the bus stairs. Luckily, The floor was wide enough, nobody's feet- or hooves, threatened to trip anyone. Though there were a few others getting off who made way for the band to run ahead.
Arie: Ow, watch the tail, Al!
Alcina: Which one?
Arie: Both of em, darn it!
Alcina: Pick them up next time.
Setting: There were a lot of people walking about here. Strange snow mobiles parked in a lot and drove two and fro.
Alcina nudges Arie and leaps onto the flattened snow road. They continued to run, racing toe and toe to a strip of buildings across from them about 30 feet away. They huffed for breath in the cold.
Alcina: Y-you'll never beat me!
Arie: Stop try-ing to reas-sure yourself! I ca-n he-ar you sha-king!
Alcina: Be-cause I'm fr-reezing!
Enyo leaned on a pillar of the mall and raised her hands to call at them: Keep trying Al, you're almost a foot ahead of her! Shame tho, even with the extra arms, she's still beating you. Little bookworm needs to come run with us more.
Alcina: Gah! Did you really just-
Arie: I can't tell if she insulted or praised-
Enyo called to Frisk and Halle: You're gonna turn into popsicles if you don't pick up the pace! Hot chocolate's gonna get cold too.
Frisk began to walk faster):
Halle: Huh?
Frisk: Chocolate.
Halle: Hey wait!
Enyo congratulated the slow pokes with grace and crowded her friends (Gasping for breath and freezing,)
through the mall doors.
Frisk says to Enyo: Chocolate?
Enyo smiles and points up a flight of 20 or so stairs: Above that.
Halle wails in despair: How did I get caught up in this.
Frisk: It'll be worth it in the end!
The group makes their way up the stairs more slowly, allowing for passerby)
At the top, there was a massive stretch of tannish marble tile, and between two walkways was a wide strip where a café had made itself at home. Little circular tables with dark hazel wood, and black lacy metal chairs with red seats were scattered around. Plenty of monsters occupied the seats, sipping from steaming coffees, reading on their tablets, while some wrote on laptops.
Halle perked up at the smell, and Frisk gave her a curious look.
Frisk: Have you ever had coffee?
Halle: I've never had the opportunity. Is that what I smell?
Alcina latches onto Halle's shoulders and propels her to the small stand where the coffee was served from.
A pleasant looking elephant dude stood there and waved to Alcina: Hey! New minion?
Alcina: Oh yes. Eric, she's never had coffee before.
Eric laughed: We must fix this.
A calico cat girl with a hat with a logo of the café looked over at them: Oh! I can help! You seem like you'd like caramel.
Halle: Huh? (nervously stammers)
Alcina: Get it!
Halle: O-kaay?
Calico: It's a good first coffee at least. I'll whip you up one. If you don't like it, I can get you something else. (smiles) Names Kali by the way. And this is Eric.
Eric: Hi! (waves)
Halle: Yeah. (brightens) My name is Halle.
Kali scribbles Halle's name on a cup) Cool.
Eric: What's everyone else want?
Enyo: This addict wants chocolate, (juts an accusing finger at Frisk) so Café Mocha for her, and I'd like one too.
Arie: Peppermint Mocha for me!
Alcina: Green tea please!
Eric: Got it! (fnishes scribbling on a notepad)
Enyo: Throw in a sweets tray, would you?
Kali: Fancy today, huh?
Enyo: Not everyday I get to treat my girls. (smiles)
Kali: Real nice of you, Enyo! Well do our best!
Enyo: thanks, Kal.
The band brought together some tables and chairs and sat together giggling and rambling about what was in store.
Alcina: The shoes there actually fit!
Halle: really?
Alcina: Yeah! We should go there sometime. I'm in need of some new boots. The sole is trying to come off on these.
Enyo: how long have you had those now?
Alcina: Four years now I think…
Enyo: Well Frisk needs some good snow boots now too so we're getting shoes today.
Alcina: Oh yessssssssss
Arie: Well I'm good on shoes for now, but thanks! I think at the moment I just need a good tail wrap…
Alcina: I can show you a place.
Arie: Is there a Faran's here?
Alcina: Yeah, just down through here, left, annnd three stores down.
Arie: Sweet. My tail has been getting so cold lately. I had a wrap last year I know, but I guess I lost it somewhere.
Alcina: I've lost mine a lot before too. Its infuriating! Its not something that isn't like its small enough to loose either!
Halle had her tail thrown across her lap, her arms laying overtop the dark and thick fur so that they disappeared. She looked content.
Alcina and Arie watched her miserably.
Arie: I guess you don't have much need of a tail wrap, do you Halle?
Halle: I am fluff.
Enyo slid off her coat and draped it over her chair. She huffed: Honestly, its kinda hot for me.
Arie: You have the shortest fur out of all of us!
Enyo: Body heat. (she pointed at Frisk) Lets not forget furless over there.
Frisk: … Well I have some peach fuzz I guess. And I do have this! (she grabbed her hair)
Alcina scooted her chair over and inspected Frisk's hair.
Frisk: Can I help you?
Alcina poked her hair and gawked: iiit feels so weeeeird! Its like- plastic only not as wiry and smooth.
Frisk: Uh…
Alcina: its stretchy!
Frisk: OW!
Arie: Hey lemme see.
Frisk: What are you doing- ow hey! Stop stealing my hair, you've already got more than me!