Following Lynn, they entered the building. Inside was bathed in cool, relaxing dark blue light. Tables line most of the floor with a few booths shattered about. To the left was a cafe area for ordering. Opposite on the other wall was a collection of bookshelves. People sat in chairs or lounged on a couch reading. The far back wall had a mic and stage. A male had finished playing and was leaving the stage, when a band walked on.
"Lynn, explain." Kya looked at her best friend.
Smirking, Lynn led them to a table. "Welcome to the Orchid cafe. It's a mix of cafe lounge, and library. Live music is often played, unless it's Quiet Study, hours for studying" He gestured to the stage. "Pretty much anyone can go on stage. Whether it's music ,poetry, a short play; all are welcome on stage.
Alexei let out a whistle. "You've been holding out Lynn. This place is a hidden gem."
Emi had never seen anything like this and kept looking around. "Do you come her often? ever played on stage?"
Lynn nodded, "I come here mostly when we're all doing out own thing or need some inspiration. I've played a few times, practice for the competition." EH still couldn't believe he placed well enough in the competition to help record an album.
Cam looked around the room. "I'm assuming the food is good here?"
Cam had seen Lynn eat just about anything. Taste, look, none of that matters to Lynn when hungry. If it's edible he's eating. Lynn laughed, "Yes, the food is both good and safe. Unlike Kya's brothers' cooking."
"Hey!" Kya lightly shoved Lynn. "Nothing is worst than their cooking.
Sitting down at a table, Emi asked. "What do you suggest?"
Lynn spent a few minutes explaining the menu than made a suggestion. The others spoke among themselves and decided to order something they could share. Choices made, Lynn and Kya went to the counter to order. Alexei and the others chatted more about the movie. They made guesses about the plot and release date of the next movie. Emi thought they'd have to wait at least a year or two for another movie. Cam thinks it'll be longer than two years. He cited the usage of comics and video games cou;d be used to expand the world's lore. Alexei was more concerned about the cliffhanger. He wanted, needed answers.
By the time Lynn and Kya came back with the food; Emi and Alexei had created an entire movie plot theory. Kya debated several impossible points, while Lynn countered with a few of his own. They ate, debated, and listened to music. Cam remained neutral throughout the debate. He didn't care what the next Arc was about, so long as it was in video game format. Another debate broke out about the pontinal. Lynn thought an action RPG would work, but Kya pointed out the dymainics of a fighting game. Round they went, the topic never straying away from /the movie.
Two hours later they'd eaten their fill and had dessert. Time to leave, they followed Cam. He led them back towards Alexei's house near the fountain. From there they stopped in front of an electronic's shop.
"Um...Cam?" Alexei questioned. "Is this like the cafe Lynn took us to?
"Yeah, what secret surprise does this palce have?" Lynn tried looking inside the window.
Cam potined to a sign. "It's no secret." The sign read 'beta Testing' and showed an arrow pointing to the next building.
"The shop runs an arcade for Beta Testing games beside the main stop. Anyone can test old and new games, if a club member brings you."
Everyone's eyes went wide.
"You do beta testing!?" Kya asked.
'Well...no." Cam looked sheepish. "I bring my prototypes here for Beta Testing..."
The meaning of his words hung in the air until Lynn understood. "You create vido video games."
"When would he have time? Between Lyoko and school?" Alexei couldn't believe it. His best friends, creating games. But a computer whiz like Cam? Yeah, he could do it.
"Will you show us when your ready?" Kya asked.
"You're not going to bug me for details?" Cam asked, shocked.
Emi giggled, "Why would we? We know you'll share when you're ready too."
Alexei nodded, "Yeah generally we can wait."
"It'll be worth it to be some of the first ones to play your game." Lynn added.
Cam was speechless. This was the first time he'd told anyone close to him about creating video games. He thought they'd ask questions and want to see it. But they were being respectful of his privacy regarding this.
"Once the games finished, you'll be the first ones to play it." Cam ushered them over to the building.
The inside was set up like a regular arcade, with games and machines lining the walls and center of the building. A counter greeted them upon entering, the worker asked for the member's name. Cam introduced himself and asked for several guest passes. To offically enter, everyone (but Cam) needed the pass.
Once inside, Cam showed them around. He pointed out various games they knew were getting sequels or additional content. When they came to a section dedicated to rythm, movement, and music games, they lost Lynn and Kya. Kya being use to moving to the beat and rhythm of music from figurer skating, challenged her musician best friend. Lynn had his ability to adapt to sports on his side, plus his passion for music. The two branched off and selected various games to play to complete against each other.
Cam left them, to continue showing Alexei and Emi around. The three of them toured the entire arcade, until Alexei found a game that interested him. It was an idol simulator still in development game. The goal was to help a group of idols become famous and various areas. The part that drew Alexei attention were the film and acting mini games. A movie buff, it was no surprise he picked up on that portion of the game.
"I didn't know Alexei played video games." Emi asked as they watched Alexei boot up the game.
"That's because he doesn't." Cam urged Emi in the direction of some other games. "He only plays them when someone else is. Kya and I are the only ones who usually play them. Lynn will join in every now and than."
Emi nodded, "So Kya's main hobby is figure skating with some video gaming, Alexei's is movies and comics, Lynn has music, and you design video games and play them."
Cam nodded, "Mostly design them. I only play video games to get an idea of how they work and how to improve mine."
Emi gave a soft smile. "Everyone has a hobby, something their passionate about execpt me." She let out a soft sigh.
"Emi, you haven't been on Earth for even a year. There's still so much for you to explore and experience." Cam tried to cheer her up. "We're lived here our entire lives and still haven't experienced."
Emi did enjoy her new life on Earth, but there were times when couldn't help but remember she wasn't from here. Yet, did that really matter? The Lyoko Defenders were her friends, they'd been with her since the reaction of the supercomputer. They'd been through so much together trying to bring her to Earth and defeat Xana. Couldn't they also help her continue to get use to life on Earth?
"How about we start looking for a hobby for you?" Cam pointed to a row of colorful video games that lit the screen a few feet away. "Video games could be a good place. Plenty of people play them."
Cam broughtEmi over rto a series of computers. He showed her a few he and Kya liked. Emi watched others playing, well itappeared fun, it reminded her of Lyoko and Xana. She wanted to try something simple.
"What's that?" Emi pointed to where two girls were hruled over a computer. One had a digital camara connected to the device and were selecting videoes. from therem they cut out scenes and used a paint brush to recolor the background.
"Oh, that's a new film and photo editing software in development. It suppose to be able to combine with painting program." He explained.
"Can I try it?" Emi asked.
"Unfortanley we don't have a camara with us for you to use with the software." Cam thouht for a moment. "You can still us the painting program... if it's not buggy. You know, beta testing and all."
They sat at the computer next to the girls. Cam booted up the painting program and instructed Emi on how to use it. He selected a template for her top practice coloring. After fifteen minutes, Emi had finished. Before them on the screen was a colored picture of a meadow full of vibration colors. Emi had even blended several colors to create new ones.
"Woah Emi." Cam saved the photo to a disc to print out later. "You sure you've never done this before?"
"I'm sure. Any free time while on Lyoko was spent either learning about Earth or watching the movies Alexei sent." Emi selected a blank canvas. "Can I try free hand?'
"Yeah, but that's gonna be harder. Even my sister struggled with it at first." Cam's older sister was an aspiring artist. She attended college overseas, but sent photos of her current art projects to Cam.
"Still, I think it'd be worth a try." Emi began working and became engrossed.
Cam watched her for a bit, but noticed Emi truly enjoying herself, he stayed nearby, playing some games. After about an hour or so, the others had stopped by. No one spoke to Emi, seeing her work. She hadn't started painting, but outlining a drawing. They couldn't tell what it was yet, so they went back to playing games.
Around six pm, Cam rounded everyone up. It was time to go home to Alexei's house. When they went to grab Emi, she'd competed the outline. The blank lines formed the quad at Kanna. Cam sat on a bench with Kya, Alexei leaned o over the back o the bench, and Lynn stand under a nearby tree.
"Emi, you drew us?" Alexei asked.
Emi blinked, drawn out of her focus. "Hmm... Yeah this. It's a memory a few days after meeting for the first time."
"You drew this in a few hours?" Kiya asked, admiring the drawing.
"Yeah, it's not much. I still have to go through and do some touch ups and color it." Emi shrugged.
The others shared a silent look. They each wondered if Emi condisered this 'not much', how would a completed one look. The details added an effortless look while still looking clean. You could see everything, from the strings on Lynn's guitar to the design on Kya's hair band.
"What shall we play next?" Emi took the disk Cam offered and placed it inside the computer to save her drawing. She'd use the cd later, to download the drawing onto her laptop. She'd have to ask Cam what kind of program she would need to draw on the device.
"Emi, what time do you think it is?" Lynn asked.
"About five pm." She replied.
"No." Kya shook her head. "It's after six pm."
"No way that much time has passed." Emi checked the time on the computer screen. "I was drawing for over two hours!"
Alexei snickered, "Yes, but did you have fun?"
Emi thought for a moment. Drawing had taken her mind off of everything. The first time she'd truly relaxed, not worried about anything. "I did, quite alot."
"Let's stop by the art store on the way home." Lynn suggested.
"We can get some beginner suff. Cam call our sister and ask for recommendations." Kya ordered.
Cam gently shoved her. "Okay, bossy."
"Well Emi, welcome to the hobby club." Alexei placed an arm around Emi. "Seems we have an artist in the group."
"Not surprising she has a creative interest." Lynn stated. "Remember how she'd comment on the colors and designs in any movie, game, or photo we'd show her."
The others thought for a moment. While Cam and Alexei had spent the most time with Emi when she was still on Lyoko, Kya and Lynn occasionally chat with her as well. Lynn often shared his music, sharing her photos of things that helped to inspire him. Kya shared footage of her favorite figurers skating. Each time Emi took an intense interest in the detail of the image or design.
"Sis is gonna call us when we get to the supply store." Cam drew their attention. "We should hurry. If she's given enough time to think, we'll end up with pop up shop worth of supplies."
"We should also allow Emi to select items she'll like." Kya added. "Not everyday we take Emi shopping for the first time."
As they exited the building and made their way to the art supply store Emi was grinning. A day of first with many more to come.