Arisugawa's Locket

Chapter 114

"That's a Centaur," Amelia blinked.

"Yep," May noted casually.

"I mean... a CENTAUR. In our bar," Amelia repeated.

"Don't freeze up on that," Ryouko noted. "We've seen weirder," the alien bartender added.

"Well, point," Amelia admitted. She took a steadying breath, "Ok, I'll go over and take the orders..."

"It's lucky we're wheelchair accessible," May noted, "or they might not have made it in." She looked thoughtful, "Though I wonder if she can manage stairs?"

"Maybe ask later," Ryouko mused. A woman was waving for a drink, so she excused herself.

"Welcome to Arisugawa's Locket," Amelia smiled at the four warmly.

"This place is incredible! Are you all really humans?!" the centaur blurted excitedly.

"Hime," the black haired girl with bat wings chided. She looked at Amelia apologetically, "You see, two armed and two legged people are mythical where we come from."

"Ah," Amelia blinked.

"Sorry, Nozomi," Hime apologized sheepishly, "I got excited."

"I'm Minami," the angel looking woman added, "and this is my girlfriend, Makoto Omaki."

"Yo," Makoto smiled.

"Well, you all appear to be adults," Amelia noted as she studied the women. "ID?"

All four produced Japanese ID, interestingly enough. They were in the low twenties, implying they were classmates of some sort.

"Beer?" Nozomi suggested.

"Wine," Hime sniffed, then snickered.

"Sake," Minami nodded then looked at Makoto, "share?"

"Works for me," Makoto agreed.

Amelia finished her note then smiled, "I'll be right back."

"This is SO weird," Nozomi noted as they looked around. No satyrs, devils, mer people, centaurs or cat people. Just these strange 'humans.'

"Don't stare," Hime scolded mildly.

"I understand you went full-time model now, Hime?" Minami asked, smiling. "How is it?"

"Longer days than I'm used to, but the money is very good. I'm saving most of it," Hime admitted.

"I'm running the dojo now," Nozomi admitted. She took Hime's hand, "And we're looking for a place together."

"Congrats! Let us know when you do, we'll help with the move and the house warming," Makoto smiled.

"Agreed. It'll be fun," Minami agreed.

Hime and Nazomi exchanged a look. "Has the Shrine situation gotten better?" Hime asked Minami gently.

"Not really," Minami admitted. "Father still can't hold down a job... I think Makoto and I may have to apply for custody of the kids. I don't trust him to take care of them."

"I'm sorry," Nazomi patted her hand.

"Is there anything we can do?" Hime asked gently.

"I might have to ask you to babysit," Minami admitted. She paused, then giggled suddenly.

"What?" Makoto asked.

"Just remembering when my little sisters first met Hime," Minami admitted.

Hime blushed pinkly. "They crowded around me yelling 'Boobies!'" she said.

"They have good taste," Nazomi said as everyone chuckled.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Juri smiled as she weaved through the crowd, only hesitating once. She reached the bar and nodded to Mahoro. "Is that...?" she started.

"Centaur," Mahoro agreed. The black haired combat maid was busy pouring drinks, so Juri left her to it. She nodded hello to Ryouko, who was working the other end of the bar, then leaned back as she studied the crowd.

Despite occupying two warehouses, the Locket was still reasonably packed. A woman was singing up on the stage, the dance floor had several ladies swaying together, the Library was crowded and the dining tables were all filled. Less regulars, though she saw Priss over in one area and Yomiko running her 'book club,' and a lot of new faces.

May was at the door doing greeter duty, though they'd rotate that in a bit so she could circulate. Nabiki should be coming in soon...

"Juri," Nabiki nodded a greeting as the brown haired woman stalked towards her in a sexy dress.

"Wha...?" Juri blinked, not used to Nabiki showing so much cleavage.

"Nina and I had a bet. I lost," Nabiki admitted.

"Looks good," Juri toasted her casually.

Nabiki just ignored that. "We've gotten some feelers from a tech company," she noted, "they want to upgrade our waitressing with tablets. They are also willing to get us a deal on ebooks and tablets for our library."

"Yomiko and the other bibliophiles would have a cow," Juri said dryly.

"Conceded," Nabiki nodded, "but publishers are moving towards a primary ebook model. We are going to have to bring them in eventually..."

"Ugh, Juri sighed. "Look into the ebook thing," she ordered, "we could do it alongside print books. Just try to get us a deal."

Nabiki gave her a look. "You know me," she grinned.

"Heh, yeah," Juri smiled.

"And the tablets for waitresses?" Nabiki asked.

"You KNOW we've had issues with some tech and Washu's Time-Space engine," Juri reminded her. "Short of having Washu here while we upgrade, I think it's not a good idea."

"Hmm. True," Nabiki agreed. "Ok, I'll get back to the office, then come out later for a waitressing shift," she said.

"Right," Juri nodded. "Are we having much luck finding more staff?"

"No one that feels like they'd fit," Nabiki admitted. "Oh, Excel and Hyatt have vanished again."

"Oh lovely...,' Juri groaned.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Alpha bustled between tables, the green haired android smiling. While she enjoyed running her cafe at home, working in the bar was much more lively.

"Hey," one of a group of cops waved.

"Good evening! Nice to see you again," Alpha beamed.

Natsumi Tsujimoto grinned, the boyish cop sitting my her lover Miyuki Kobayakawa. Across from them were Aoi Futaba and her lover Yoriko Nikaidou. All four were regulars at the Locket, and were friends with Arisugawa-san.

"What can I get you today?" Alpha asked politely.

"Beer," Natsumi said promptly, while the others ordered their usual. "Can Sasami send out some chips and dip? I'm hungry, but not ready for dinner yet."

"You're ALWAYS hungry," Miyuki teased.

"You'd know," Yoriko quipped.

"Ooooh!" Aoi laughed as the other two blushed.

"I'll be right back," Alpha laughed and hurried off.

"You two are SO mean," Miyuki pouted.

"If you give a opening like that...," Yoriko shrugged.

"Yeah, yeah...," Natsumi sighed. Changing the subject she looked at Aoi, "Are you still running that group for trans kids and adults?"

"Yes, tho so far unofficially," Aoi noted.

"Why no official status?" Miyuki asked.

"Well, we have both men and women in the group, so it has to be in a general LGBTQ supporting facility," Aoi sighed tiredly, "and there's also the TERF issue."

"TERF?" Natsumi sounded perplexed.

"Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist," Aoi told her, "basically if you weren't born with lady parts, they say you are not welcome in lesbian spaces."

"That's fucked up," Miyuki blinked, using much rougher language than usual.

Yoriko nodded, "Thank goodness Arisugawa isn't like that." She looked thoughtful, "You could hold a girls only meeting HERE actually."

"I may ask," Aoi admitted, "but I'd like a general space to borrow..."

Alpha bustled back with a tray of drinks. "Here we go," she set everyone's drinks down. "And a snack tray for Natsumi," she added.

"Why a TRAY?" Natsumi blinked.

"We know your appetite?" Alpha grinned and everyone laughed.

To be continued...

Arisugawa's Locket Staff: Amelia from Trigun the Movie, Msy from Hand Maid May, Ryouko from Tenchi Muyo, Arisugawa Juri from Utena, Mahoro from Mahoromantic, Tendo Nabiki from Ranma 1/2, and Alpha from Quiet Country Cafe

Characters: Hime, Nozomi, Minami and Makoto are from Centaur's Worries, Natsumi, Miyuki, Aoi and Yoriko are from You're Under Arrest

Notes: the Centaur's Worries cast are from several years after the end of the series. Their discussion if based on plot bits from the manga, basically. Minami's dad can't hold down a job, leaving Minami to partially support them as a 'pro' shrine maiden, basically.

The group Aoi is talking about is my fic 'Crossdressing Characters of Anime, Unite!' which is also on this site. TERFs have come up in the news lately, so I thought it made sense to at least mention them as a 'thing'.