genessia | Action/Video

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Action/Video

[Action: Aphrodite's Love Matching & Arcade, Nova City]

[As hard as she's been working to get a foothold into the modelling scene around Genessia, Ann's come to the conclusion that she needs to find a second job. She can't help but feel guilty that Ren is working so hard to cover the rent and beyond that, she's finding she wants more disposable income than she currently has.

She hadn't been sure what she might be suited for. But then she'd happened across a notice that an arcade in Nova City was looking for matchmakers and, well, that could be fun, right?

That's the attitude she walks in with, at least, determined to make a good first impression on her new boss and to help others with their love lives even as she's not sure quite how qualified she really is to advise. She's friendly, eager and determined to do her best and she even finds some good customers.

Then there's the ones who aren't so good. The ones who seem to have mistaken matchmaker for something else, something far less wholesome and wholly inappropriate for an arcade. And that's where people might hear Ann raise her voice, stern and relenting only at genuine apologies. By the end of the day, she's exhausted but oddly fulfilled.

Which isn't to say she's above a little PSA in the aftermath.]

[Video]

[Based on the view behind Ann and the ambient sounds of cutlery and drinks being made, she's filming this from a cafe. Because she thinks she deserves cake after the day she's had, but she wants to get this out before she forgets.]

All right. I figured most of you would know this anyway but after today I think people might need a reminder. The Aphrodite's Love Matching & Arcade matchmaking service is not about you coming in and paying for sex. I'm sure there are places around the cities where you can do that sort of thing but our service is for people who are genuinely looking for a relationship and I for one will not expose our customers to people who are so obviously only after one thing.

And no, the matchmakers aren't there for you to have sex with either. Trying it anyway won't make us believe that you're genuinely interested in what we do. We can help you deal with potential relationships better but we will not help you to trick someone into thinking they're getting something they're not.

[She sighs, then, pausing to take a bite of cake and swallowing before she speaks.]

But you know, all that aside? Matchmaking can be pretty fun. And I wanna hear about the good stories, the ones where it worked out. So I guess, if you've ever helped to set up a couple or you've been helped like that, and you don't mind sharing, I'd love to hear all about it.

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[Minako really isn't used to 'supervising' people. That had been more Rei's thing. But as the owner, she does try to be a good boss, and she knows how nerve-wracking it can be for someone's first week or two on the job. That's why she tries to make herself more available by being on the arcade floor.]

[...And also because she really likes playing video games when there isn't much to do. Isn't that part of the reason she worked at a place like this?]

[She's clutching the steering wheel of Racer Pro X3, slowly overtaking the first place racer, when she hears her new matchmaker speaking up. And if she can hear Ann over all the beeps and roars and mechanical ditties, something's up.]

You! Take over for me!

[She grabs a kid and puts his hands on the steering wheel as she slides out of her seat and runs toward the commotion. The kid is confused, but hey, free play so he's not objecting. Minako heads up the stairs toward the matchmaking offices. She doesn't come up here nearly as often as she used to, but it still feels familiar. And there's Ann, looking furious.]

What happened? Are you all right, Ann-chan?

[ She's in the matchmaking office, munching on some pocky. If Minako has issues with her being on the network, she can say that being connected helps her learn more about the compatibility of people.]

Wow, people have been creepy with you?
That sucks.

I haven't had much issue with that. The few that bothered me are in the creep folder. My trolling deterred them.

Those who don't respect boundaries shouldn't be in relationships.

[By the time Minako reaches the office, whoever Ann was yelling at appears to have gone - but from the way Ann is still seething, it would seem they've only just gone. Really, she's been hoping for a moment or two to calm herself before dealing with the next customer - but apparently she'd been louder than she thought because there's her boss in the doorway and suddenly Ann can't help but feel a little ashamed.

Only a little, because the jerk deserved it. But she does realise she is supposed to be the professional one here.]

Ah, sorry! I didn't think things had gotten that heated. But I'm fine, really.

[Then it occurs to her that, as her boss, Minako is not just asking out of friendly concern.]

Just, you know. Seems like some guys get the wrong impression about what we're here for. And I really can't stand it when they think they're entitled to whatever they want, you know?

[And while she might have handled things more meekly, once, now she's grown beyond that - and apparently not everyone handles that so well, hence the escalation to shouting match.]

[She can't help but think of Futaba, especially after the trolling comment. It's enough to bring a smile to her lips, if a faint one.]

Right? And you just know they'd throw a fit if they thought anyone was crossing their boundaries...assuming they even have any.

[In Kamoshida's case that boundary was "people telling him what to do and not worshipping him" and she can't help but think he's not unique in that.]

I can't even say I'm not used to it, I just wasn't expecting it with this job for some reason.

Wait...we got someone like that? Here?!

[Minako must have been lucky that such things didn't happen to her while she was the matchmaker. (Or maybe it was because she was so much younger and it would have been SO ILLEGAL if they tried anything, especially when she had all those cameras set up for video dates.)]

[She looks back at the stairs, then at Ann, thinking for only a second or two before making up her mind.]

Point him out, I'll get the broom!

[When Chiaki wasn't at her place of business, her own arcade that doubled as a Pokemon gym, she was always found back at the first place she ever worked at because someone had to keep the high scores high. Give people a challenge. However, the young woman soon found herself staring at a game over screen because of the raised noise that was directly behind her. Or at least it was loud enough to sound like it.

She knew if she tried again while that was going on, she would just end up with a game over. So she turned her head and looked over at what was going on, moving to go find the cause before pointing her finger towards the one who seemed to had started it.]

You! Are being loud and disrupting a lot of people from their gaming enjoyment. Now if you will stop yelling at the lady, she is simply trying to explain what her job actually is. So listen or I will challenge you to a game.

[Yeah, best way to solve problems, right?]

Excuse me, but does your matchmaking service provide advice for those who think they might have found a match. That is to say, someone who has found a person they would like to go on a date with but does not know how to approach.

*Faye doesn't know this person, but it doesn't hurt to type in a way that disguises her either!*

Yep. Even the idea of someone they don't find attractive hitting on them makes them freak out.

Boss-chan is underaged, so people really shouldn't think this is anything beyond innocent dating.

And video gamers are usually too nervous around people to make inappropriate advances.

Aren't you also underaged?

[ Rika is an adult. Ann looks younger.]

Did whoever it was back off after you explained things to them, at least?

Oh! No, it's okay, I think he got the hint. Though...maybe it wouldn't hurt to make sure.

[After all, just because he's not right in front of her doesn't mean he's given up on getting a 'date' by his definition and that means disrupting the innocent customers.

And she definitely wants to make it clear that she doesn't shy away from handling situations she's helped to cause. Which is why she moves for the stairs first, heading down into the gaming area and already scanning for any sign of the troublemaker.]

Yeah but like I said, I'm not exactly not used to people being jerks about this kind of thing.

[If it hadn't stopped someone who taught at her school and managed the team her best friend was part of, it's not going to stop someone who doesn't know her beyond what she looks like.

Not that Kamoshida ever had, either.]

Maybe we ought to start running lessons. How to actually talk to people you might like, you know? And how to take rejection gracefully.

[Even as angry as she is at the guy in front of her, who apparently didn't seem to get that as a customer, he wasn't entitled to contact details for every other customer in their system, Ann can't help but smile a little as she recognises the girl moving to intervene. They hadn't spoken much, but Ann knows just how seriously Chiaki takes her gaming so of course she would be mad about being interrupted.

And of course gaming would be the solution. Too bad the 'customer' seems to read that as a way of getting what he wants, prompting Ann to return into full-on strict mode.]

Not that it matters because if you challenge her she will kick your ass, but this isn't a negotiation. No means no. I don't care how far your tantrums have gotten you before but you will not get what you're asking for from me or any of the other staff here.

[She thinks he's gotten the hint, while he's silent. Then he turns his focus to Chiaki and Ann realises he's gotten too caught up in proving her wrong about Chiaki kicking his ass; all she can do is offer the other girl an apologetic look and cast about for any sign of security in case this escalates further.]

Uh...I don't think we do officially? Though if you tell me a little more maybe I can help but I don't want to promise anything.

[Not when she's currently neck-deep in denial and with no experience of dating anyone.]

Some were more persistent than others, but luckily there weren't any really serious incidents. Just means I'll have to be even more prepared to deal with them from now on.

Oh, please do not worry. I would not want to put you out.

The thing is that I have never asked someone on a date before and I am worried that perhaps he is not interested in me in that way...

Is it someone you know? Someone you're already friends with?

[She wasn't wrong. Though Chiaki knew a lot of people even regulars might not realise that the Chi in most high scores were in fact hers. So she wasn't surprised that he seemed awfully confident. But it made picking the game so much easier.]

If I win you will leave and don't come back until you learn and understand what you did is wrong. If you win, I guess we go on a date... But with this game, I doubt I will lose.

[She looked over at Ann with a smile brimming with confidence before she walked on over toward the game of her choice. A fighter game. Once she was sure things were ready and the other was she started picking her usual character, a female one people wouldn't normally pick. But Chiaki knew the ins and out to make her most frightening indeed.

When the round started Chiaki's reflexes were on point, moving in to using an ability right off the bat, surprising the other and moving into a block when she knew she needed to. It wasn't long before she wo not only the first round but the second one two.]

And that's game. [Chiaki turned her head, her face which had been happy while playing had now turned serious.]

I won, so now you have to leave. Okay? And say sorry to her along the way.

Yes, that is correct. At least, I assume that he thinks of me as a friend.

[Minako really wants to make sure Ann is all right, but if there's a lecherous pervert on the loose in her arcade, she's got to flush him out immediately and make sure he NEVER comes back. She dashes down the stairs, and apparently she wasn't kidding about the broom. The top of it bobs visibly above the arcade cabinets as she hunts through the consoles and machines. But there's no sign of any strange men. Ann must have scared him off, and if she didn't, he was no doubt discouraged by the huge lawsuit just waiting to happen if a teenage girl started kicking his ass.]

[She puts the broom away and returns to Ann. Now that the threat is gone, so is her anger, and Minako bows very, very deeply to Ann.]

I'm so sorry. You just started and you had to deal with something that awful! I'll do what it takes to make sure it doesn't happen again. Signs that say 'No Perverts!' on the window. I'll even hire a security guard! But please don't quit.

[She lifts her head a little, eyes shut tight as she claps her hands together in an earnest plea. ...And she opens one eye to see if Ann believes her sincerity.]

Please, Ann-chan?

Ha ha, I don't suppose you'd be looking for bodyguards or bouncers, in this case?

I can't... say I'm surprised over that sort of behavior, but I wish I was. You alright, kiddo?

Ann, if anyone is trying to make improper advances toward you or your colleagues, please tell us at once. Did you get their names, or remember any faces?

Uh...

[Ann's already a little taken aback by the fact that the broom wasn't a joke or idle threat. It's enough for her to know she really doesn't want to get on Minako's bad side, not that it's something she'd been planning on doing anyway.

That doesn't throw her, though, so much as the sudden plea for her not to quit as though that had crossed Ann's mind at all. She's a little uncomfortable at the depth of that bow, especially since she's aware that some of the customers are looking at them.]

It's okay...I wasn't going to quit, not over something like that when it's not even your fault. I'm just sorry it escalated to the point you had to get involved. I guess I learned to handle them a little too well...

[Which probably isn't a good thing. Either way, she knows there's a line between standing up for herself and getting too wound up and it's something she's just going to have to work on.]

[Ann's pretty uneasy about the conditions that Chiaki sets but she tries to shrug it off - Chiaki wouldn't say that unless she knew it wasn't going to happen, right? Either way, the guy's already mouthing off about how it's going to be the "best date ever" and how it'll be an honour for Chiaki to spend time in the company of a "real" gamer.

She follows closely as they move towards the game, still needing to keep an eye on the situation. The guy starts out as cocky as he's been so far, sneering at Chiaki's character choice and picking one of the most macho characters in what Ann can only assume is a power fantasy.

It doesn't help. Of course it doesn't help. By the end of the second round, the guy's sputtering and swearing - but by now, Ann has regained her composure and has managed a fiery glare that's almost literally so - she's not going to use her Persona here but she's more than prepared to show she's a threat.]

Get out. And don't come back until you learn some damn manners. Until you do, you are not welcome here.

[Finally he gets the hint, especially when his attempts to get back-up from the other gamers falls flat - not surprising given most of them probably know Chiaki if not Ann.

Once he's gone, Ann lets out a long breath, turning to the other girl.]

Sorry for dragging you into this. I'll see about getting you some free games or something.

Ah. That's where it gets tricky. I...honestly don't know what to say.

[Especially not on an open network where ~~Ryuji~~ someone might get the wrong idea.]

That wouldn't really be down to me to decide, you'd probably want to speak to Minako-san about that.

But I'm fine, thank you. Much as I hate to admit it, I've gotten used to dealing with them.

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